Onur Burak Dursun

Mirtazapine protects against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the rat brain.

Cisplatin chemotherapy is associated with neurotoxicity, and oxidative stress might play an important role in the pathogenesis. Mirtazapine may be a preventative agent via its less‐known antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to examine the potential chemoprotective effects of mirtazapine against cisplatin‐induced oxidative stress and DNA damage.

A Case with Unexplained Bleeding from Multiple Sites: Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) is an extreme form of child abuse where children were unnecessarily treated or investigated for medical conditions that were falsified by their caregivers. Here the authors report a 16-year-old female with the complaints of bleeding from multiple and unusual sites, including hemoptysis, hematuria, bloody tears, and bloody nipple discharge, all of which are only witnessed by her mother. Extensive investigation revealed no organic etiologies for bleeding. The diagnosis of MBP was put by a multidisciplinary team. The diagnosis of MBP must be kept in mind in conditions where there is no underlying organic pathology in a bleeding patient.

The relationship between Vitamin D, autistic spectrum disorders, and cognitive development: do glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor play a role in this relationship?

Objective: In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the effects of Vitamin D on cognitive development and autism. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between autism, cognitive developmental delay and behavioral problems. We also aimed to examine the possible mechanisms of interaction between nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels. Methods: Sixty-four toddlers with developmental delay participated in the study. In the initial assessment, the cases were subjected to a psychiatric examination and developmental tests. Vitamin D, GDNF, and NGF levels were observed. Patients who had low vitamin D levels received replacement treatment. Six months later, the same measures were repeated. Results: Significant progress in autistic symptoms and development scores were determined for the group receiving vitamin D replacement. A negative correlation was found between vitamin D levels and NGF levels. Development scores and GDNF levels were found to be positively correlated in patients who were diagnosed with only cognitive development delay. Conclusions: Measuring vitamin D levels and replacing them if they are low may be beneficial in children with developmental delay, particularly those who also have autistic spectrum disorders. NGF may be more related to autism spectrum disorders, while GDNF seems to be more related with global developmental delay.

Disrupted latent decision processes in medication-free pediatric OCD patients

BACKGROUND Decision-making in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has typically been investigated in the adult population. Computational approaches have recently started to get integrated into these studies. However, decision-making research in pediatric OCD populations is scarce. METHODS We investigated latent decision processes in 21 medication-free pediatric OCD patients and 23 healthy control participants. We hypothesized that OCD patients would be more cautious and less efficient in evidence accumulation than controls in a two alternative forced choice (2AFC) task. RESULTS Pediatric OCD patients were less efficient than controls in accumulating perceptual evidence and showed a tendency to be more cautious. In comparison to post-correct decisions, OCD patients increased decision thresholds after erroneous decisions, whereas healthy controls decreased decision thresholds. These changes were coupled with weaker evidence accumulation after errors in both groups. LIMITATIONS The small sample size limited the power of the study. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate poorer decision-making performance in pediatric OCD patients at the level of latent processes, specifically in terms of evidence accumulation.

The effect of ice skating on psychological well-being and sleep quality of children with visual or hearing impairment

Abstract Purpose: Physical exercise and sports have a key role in preventing physical and psychiatric problems in children. However, children with a disability often experience difficulty participating in physical activity due to a lack of suitable opportunities. Participation in an accessible sport is particularly important for these children, but studies examining which sports are beneficial for which disability groups are rare. In this study, we assessed the effects of ice skating on the psychological well-being, self-concept, and sleep quality of children with hearing or visual impairment. Method: Forty students (20 visually impaired and 20 hearing impaired) aged 8–16 were included in a regular ice skating programme for three months. We examined the sleep quality, self-concept, and behavioural and emotional states of the children before and after participating in the programme. Results: There was a significant improvement in self-concept, behavioural and emotional problems, and sleep quality (p < 0.05 for each) of the children with hearing impairment. Although the sleep quality (p = 0.019) and emotional problem scores (p = 0.000) of the visually impaired children improved; self-concept, peer relations and hyperactivity scores of these children worsened (p < 0.05 for each). Conclusion: Ice skating is one of the popular sport alternatives that gives children the opportunity to exercise and have fun together. The results of this study revealed that regular ice skating programmes may have positive effects on the psychological well-being of children with hearing impairment. Despite some positive effects, caution must be use when including visually impaired children in ice skating programmes. Generalization of the studys outcomes is limited as the study group were residential students enrolled in special education institutions for children who are blind or deaf. Implications for Rehabilitation Ice skating is a community-based sport and a popular leisure activity that can also have benefits for people with disabilities. Ice skating and children with hearing impairment: Self-concept, behavioural and emotional problems, and sleep quality of the children with hearing impairment significantly improved after ice skating. Ice skating programmes may be considered as a rehabilitation alternative for children with hearing impairment. Ice skating and children with visual impairment: Caution must be use when including children with visual impairment in ice skating programmes because of possible negative psychological outcomes. Balance exercises before starting the practices on ice should be considered for preventing some possible negative outcomes in children with visual impairment.

Does working with child abuse cases affect professionals' parenting and the psychological well-being of their children?

Work in the field of sexual abuse is extremely stressful and may arouse negative personal reactions. Although these secondary trauma effects are well described on a personal level, there is not enough evidence to understand whether these professionals carry these effects to their homes, families, and offspring. This study aims to identify the effects of working with child abuse cases on the anxiety level and parenting styles of childhood trauma workers and on their children’s well-being. A total of 43 health and legal system workers who worked with abused children in any step of their process and who had children constituted the study group, and 50 control cases, each working in the same institution and having the same occupation as 1 of the participants from the study group and having children but not working directly with children and child abuse cases, were included in the study. Participants were asked to fill out a sociodemographic form, the Parental Attitude Research Instrument, the trait portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and an age-appropriate form of the Child Behavior Checklist for each child they had. Professionals in the study working with child abuse cases demonstrated significantly higher democratic parenting attitudes. Law enforcement workers working with child abuse cases demonstrated stricter and more authoritarian parenting strategies, as well as more democratic attitudes, than their colleagues. There was not a statistically significant relationship between child abuse workers’ anxiety level and their children’s well-being among control subjects.

Interactive video usage on autism spectrum disorder training in medical education

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the effects of interactive and non-interactive videos concerning the autism spectrum disorder on medical students’ achievement. It also evaluated the relation between the interactive videos’ interactivity and the students’ decision-making process. It used multiple methods, including quantitative and qualitative methods. The participants were 60 medical students, divided into two groups. One group watched an interactive video while the other watched a non-interactive video. Pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate the students’ relevant achievements in each group. Moreover, a think-aloud protocol was used to evaluate the decision-making process of the group who watched the interactive video. The pre- and post-test results indicated an increase in the achievements of students in the tested groups. Students who watched the interactive video were found to be more successful. Finally, watching interactive videos was shown to positively affect medical students’ decision-making process.

Mind Conduct disorders in children with poor oral hygiene habits and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with excessive tooth decay

Introduction Dental caries and poor oral hygiene are among the major childhood public health problems. Although dental research frequently refers to the link between these conditions and behavioural issues, little attention has been paid to understanding the reason for oral health problems from a psychiatric point of view. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between poor oral health and hygiene and parental attitudes towards child rearing, parents’ and children’s oral hygiene behaviours, and childhood psychiatric disorders. Material and methods This study included 323 children aged 3–15 years. Decayed, missing, filled and decayed, extracted, filled indices, the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Parent Attitude Research Instrument were used in the study. Results We found that the subjects’ hyperactivity/inattention scores were positively correlated with poor oral health (p = 0.001) and heavy cariogenic food consumption (p = 0.040). Tooth brushing frequency was found to be significantly lower in children who have a risk for conduct/oppositional disorders than in their non-problematic peers (p = 0.001). Conclusions Dental health and oral hygiene behaviours have close links with psychiatric disorders and psychosocial issues. Improving cooperation between child psychiatrists and dentists seems to be important in the prevention of paediatric dental problems.

Turkish Validation and Adaptation of Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ)

OBJECTIVE Chronotype refers to the time of the day that a persons physical and cognitive functions are active. Simply this is a circadian phase preference of a person. While some of the people are morning active (so called larks) others are more active at nights (The owls). The study of circadian rhythms, known as chronobiology, is all about the metabolic and psychiatric differences between people who have different chronotypes. A few tests are used to determine chronotypes. The CCTQ (Childrens Chronotype Questionnaire) is a parent-report, 27-item mixed format questionnaire measuring chronotype of children in multiple domains : the midsleep point on free days (MSF), a morningness/eveningness scale(M/E) score, and a five-point chronotype (CT) score. The aim of this study is adapting Childrens Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ) into Turkish language and validating the instrument in Turkish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS 101 children aged nine through eighteen constitude the sample of the study. The sample was composed of clinical (n=51) and community groups (n=50). CCTQ and Morningness Eveningness Scale for Children (MESC) questionnaires were applied to children and parents, then the CCTQ and MESC scores were compared to examine the validity of CCTQ. RESULTS The internal consistency and external validity of the Turkish CCTQ was sufficient to compare MESC-Turkish. As a result of this research carried out in accordance with methodological research principles, correlation between the M/E scores of CCTQ and MESC was significant. CONCLUSION The Turkish version of CCTQ has been found to be valid and reliable in Turkish children.

Unintentional injuries in preschool age children: is there a correlation with parenting style and parental attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms

AbstractUnintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children. Previous research has shown that most of the injuries occur in and around the home. Therefore, parents have a key role in the occurrence and prevention of injuries. In this study, we examined the relationship among home injuries to children and parental attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, parental attitudes, and childrens behavioral problems.Forty children who were admitted to the emergency department because of home injuries constitute the study group. The control group also consisted of 40 children, who were admitted for mild throat infections. The parents filled out questionnaires assessing parental ADHD, child behavioral problems, and parenting attitudes.Scores were significantly higher for both internalizing disorders and externalizing disorders in study groups. We also found that ADHD symptoms were significantly higher among fathers of injured children compared with fathers of control groups. Democratic parenting was also found to correlate with higher numbers of injuries.Parenting style, as well as the psychopathology of both the parents and children, is important factors in childrens injuries. A child psychiatrist visit following an emergency procedure may help to prevent further unintentional injuries to the child.