Zeynep Goker

Oxidative stress in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders

BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are common in children and adolescents, and they can significantly impair quality of life. Genetic, neurobiological, neurochemical, and psychological factors are believed to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Recent evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders may be associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether there are associations between children with anxiety disorders and total oxidant/antioxidant status. METHODS The experimental group consisted of 40 patients (children and adolescents) with anxiety disorders. An age- and gender-matched control group composed of 35 healthy subjects was also assessed. Venous blood samples were collected and total antioxidative status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. RESULTS Both the TOS and the OSI of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. There were no significant differences in TAS between the experimental and control groups. LIMITATIONS The main limitation of our study was the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that oxidative balance is impaired in children with anxiety disorders. Oxidative stress may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and TOS may be a useful diagnostic tool in this context.

Serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. The etiopathogeny of ADHD has not been totally defined. Recent reports have suggested a pathophysiological role of neurotrophins in ADHD. In this study, we evaluated serum levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with ADHD. The sample population consisted of 44 child or adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria; 36 healthy subjects were included in the study as controls. Venous blood samples were collected, and NGF levels were measured. The mean serum NGF levels of the ADHD patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. Age and gender of the patients were not correlated with serum NGF levels. There were no significant differences in NGF levels among the combined and predominantly inattentive subtypes of ADHD. Our study suggests that there are higher levels of serum NGF in drug naive ADHD patients, and that increased levels of NGF might have an important role in the pathophysiology of ADHD.

Lipid peroxidation markers in children with anxiety disorders and their diagnostic implications

Abstract Objective Numerous factors, including genetic, neurobiological, neurochemical, and psychological factors, are thought to be involved in the development of anxiety disorders. The latest findings show that the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders might be associated with oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation; however, no studies have so far investigated lipid peroxidation markers in children with anxiety disorders. Serum levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) are a reliable marker of lipid peroxidation. Paraoxonase and arylesterase are two enzymes that protect against such peroxidation, and might also be diagnostic markers. In this study, we investigated whether there are associations between anxiety disorders and lipid peroxidation markers in children, and assessed the diagnostic performance of these markers. Methods The study group consisted of 37 patients (children and adolescents) with anxiety disorders. A control group, matched for age and gender, was composed of 36 healthy subjects. Venous blood samples were collected, and LOOH levels and paraoxonase and arylesterase activity were measured. Results LOOH levels were significantly higher in the anxiety disorders group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in paraoxonase or arylesterase activities between the patient and the control groups. Discussion Lipid peroxidation or oxidative damage might play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders. LOOH may be a potential biological marker for anxiety disorders in children.

Increased levels of serum neopterin in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequently occurring neuropsychiatric disorder in childhood with an etiology that is not fully understood. A number of reviews that have addressed the neurobiology of ADHD have focused on imaging and genetics. Relatively little attention has been given to factors/mechanisms involved in the brain dysfunction. We suggest that changes in cellular immunity may be involved. Neopterin is a good indicator of cellular immunity, and we evaluated serum levels of neopterin in patients with ADHD. The study group consisted of 49 patients with ADHD. An age- and gender-matched control group was composed of 31 healthy subjects. Venous blood samples were collected, and the levels of neopterin were measured. The levels of neopterin were significantly higher in ADHD than in the comparison subjects. Cellular immunity may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD.

Insomn𝚤a and parasomn𝚤a frequency and affect𝚤ng factors 𝚤n school ch𝚤ldren

Insomnia and parasomnia are the most commonly seen sleep disorders in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and parasomnia in school children in a metropolitan area (Trabzon) of Turkey. This is the first study on this issue in Turkey to use a large sample size.

Insomnia, parasomnia, and predisposing factors in Turkish school children

Insomnia and parasomnia are the most commonly seen sleep disorders in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and parasomnia in school children in a metropolitan area (Trabzon) of Turkey. This is the first study on this issue in Turkey to use a large sample size.

The Quality of Life (QoL) in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity of core symptoms, affect‐ ing 3-10% of school age children, as well as 4% of adults. Quality of Life (QoL) is an individual perception in regard to his/her position in life, in the context of culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. Then it has a multidimensional concept, the core of which consists of the physical, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of functioning. Several studies on QoL in ADHD have been published pointing out that QoL do‐ mains in ADHD have been found to be negatively affected compared to the healthy persons. This situation suggests that ADHD not only affects academic achievements of a person but it also has a deteriorating effect on all aspects of life, including social and occupational. Mostly used pharmacological agents are atomoxetine, methylpheni‐ date and other stimulants related to QoL and ADHD context. These agents of ADHD treatments have been correlated with an improvement in QoL scores. Non-pharmaco‐ logical interventions and their effects on QoL in patients with ADHD or the effective‐ ness of combined treatment modalities should be carried out in the near future.

Autism Spectrum Disorders in Cases Presenting to a Child Psychiatry Department: Demographics and Clinical Features

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) presenting to a child psychiatry department, including their clinical and demographics features. Material and Methods: The data of children seen at the University of Health Sciences, Ankara Child Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Hospital during 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The sociodemographics and clinical features of the children diagnosed with ASD were collected. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: Of the 130 children with ASD evaluated, 80% were boys. The mean age when the ASD was diagnosed was 40.7 months (12-96 months). The mean age when they presented to the child psychiatry clinics was 56.5 months (16152 months). There were 110 cases with special education data and 80.8% of them were continuing their education program. Of the 104 cases with intelligence quotient scores. 73.9% of them had intellectual disability. There were 105 cases with a medication history and 49.2% of them had used at least one psychotropic agent. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (AbBC, (t(17)=-2.564, p=0.020) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC, (t(32)=-2.254, p=0.031) scores of the

Birth order and reproductive stoppage in families of children with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the birth order of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ways of delivery at birth, together with the phenomenon of reproductive stoppage and the number of siblings in the case families (families of children with ASD in the study). METHODS: One hundred and ninety-six subjects with ASD and 54 healthy children were included into the study. Demographics were collected. Autism Behaviour Checklist (ABC), Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (AbBC), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were administered. Depending on the type of data and on the objective of the assessment, Mann–Whitney U-test, chi-square test, and Spearman tests were used for statistical analysis. A p-value smaller than .05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: In the study group consisting of children with ASD, the rate of being the first-born child was determined to be more frequent, significantly, compared to the rate in the control group (p = .001). It was also found that 86.7% (n = 170) of the children in the ASD group had at least one sibling compared to the rate of 81.5% (n = 44) for their counterparts in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study compared ASD group to controls in terms of birth order, demonstrating a significant difference for being the first-born child in the ASD group. Birth order can be considered to be one of the several environmental factors that will help in understanding ASD, in which environmental factors can be the cause of phenotypic complexity. For all that, in our study, it was observed that having a child with autism in the Turkish sample did not affect the decision for the next pregnancy.

Serum oxytocin and vasopressin levels in children with social anxiety disorder and the effects of parent characteristics

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: We aim to determine serum oxytocin, vasopressin levels and examine parent characteristics in children diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD). METHODS: Thirty four children diagnosed with SAD and 34 mothers were compared with a healthy control group (21 control children and their mothers) in this case–control study. Assessment performed via State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised (SASC-R). Serum samples collected for detection of oxytocin and vasopressin levels. RESULTS: The distribution range of vasopressin levels were found statistically higher in control group than SAD group (p = 0,002). Additionally results showed no statistically significant differences according to the mean levels of serum oxytocin and vasopressin between groups. The scores of STAI-C, SASC-R and democratic attitudes/egalitarianism subscales of PARI were found significantly higher in children with SAD. Similarly we reported that mean scores of SCL-90 scale, LSAS and SCL-90 subscales were higher in mothers of patients group. CONCLUSIONS: Although significantly lower distribution range of vasopressin levels was found in SAD patients, mean oxytocin and vasopressin levels were not associated with SAD etiology. Additionally psychopathologies particularly anxious behaviour in mothers may contribute SAD development in early period of childhood.