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Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 33666

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Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner

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Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Interests: adolescent behavior; adolescent psychology; anxiety disorders; psychophysiology; social behavior; social behavior disorders; stress disorders; acute-stage traumatic stress disorder; psychological; virtual reality exposure therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Childhood and adolescence are critical stages of life, especially regarding mental health issues. This underlines the importance of reliable and early diagnoses and treatments with high efficacy. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on improving the knowledge on innovative assessments and psychological treatments of mental health conditions in children and adolescents. In addition, it is necessary to expand our understanding of underlying mechanisms, interesting new facets, and prognoses of mental disorders in this age group. This Special Issue aims to include studies presenting a broad range of mental disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidality, eating disorders, ADHD, childhood trauma, personality disorders) and their impact on several social environments of children and adolescents (e.g., school, peer-group, parents).

All original articles, clinical trials, experimental lab research, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic are welcome and will be equally considered for publication. I look forward to receiving your contribution to this Special Issue, enabling us to provide state-of-the-art clinical updates on the psychology of the younger ages.

Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

child and adolescent mental health
child and adolescent psychopathology
child development
neuropsychological assessment and treatment
biomarkers for mental disorders
personalized treatments
digital interventions
psychological distress
emotion regulation
suicidality

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectivity of a School-Based Early Intervention Targeting Psychological Complaints and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

by Imke Baetens, Lisa Van Hove, Zahra Azadfar, Martijn Van Heel and Veerle Soyez

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(7), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13071852 - 23 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1429

Abstract

Background: Recent research suggests a concerning trend of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors emerging at younger ages (as early as age 12). Early onset of NSSI is linked to more severe outcomes. While universal school-based prevention programs have shown promise in addressing suicidal behaviors, there is limited research on their effectiveness in preventing NSSI onset among adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a universal prevention program in schools for NSSI and mental complaints while enhancing resilience and mental health in 11–14-year-old adolescents. Methods: In total, 329 Flemish secondary school students (55.6% female), aged 11 to 14 years, participated in a 4 h classroom universal prevention, with a focus on emotion regulation, mental health, and specific strategies to prevent NSSI and reduce stigma. For both the intervention and control group (N = 124), a pre-, post-, and one-month follow-up questionnaire was administered, containing reliable and valid measures for NSSI and suicidality, emotion regulation, help-seeking behaviors, well-being, and psychological distress. Results: The prevention program effectively reduced NSSI and psychological distress, particularly for adolescents with a history of NSSI. Conclusions: These findings support previous research on the effectiveness of school-based programs in reducing mental complaints and suggest promising outcomes for NSSI prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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17 pages, 5112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Social Attention Patterns and Emotion Recognition Ability in Male Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

by Karin Prillinger, Stefan T. Radev, Gabriel Amador de Lara, Sonja Werneck-Rohrer, Paul L. Plener, Luise Poustka and Lilian Konicar

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(17), 5570; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12175570 - 26 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1783

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social cognition including emotion recognition (ER) abilities. Common symptoms include unusual patterns of visual social attention, which are investigated as early developmental biomarkers for ASD. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown promising results in influencing social functioning in individuals with ASD. However, the effects of tDCS on social attention patterns and ER ability in adolescents with ASD remain unclear. This double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial examined the effects of repeated sessions of tDCS on gaze behavior and ER ability in 22 male adolescents diagnosed with ASD. Participants received either 20 min of 2 mA active tDCS or sham stimulation for 10 days and an intra-stimulation training. Social allocation patterns were assessed using eye-tracking paradigms, including ER tasks. Our results indicated no tDCS-specific effects. Both groups showed improvements in ER and more frequent, faster, and longer fixations on the eyes than the mouth, and on social than nonsocial areas. In tasks with low social content, fixating the mouth seemed to increase ER accuracy. Understanding the effects of tDCS on social functioning in adolescents with ASD holds promise for the development of targeted interventions to improve their social cognition abilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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10 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health of Transgender Youth: A Comparison of Assigned Female at Birth and Assigned Male at Birth Individuals

by Diana Klinger, Stefan Riedl, Heidi Elisabeth Zesch, Sofia-Marie Oehlke, Sabine Völkl-Kernstock, Paul L. Plener, Andreas Karwautz and Oswald D. Kothgassner

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(14), 4710; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12144710 - 16 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1984

Abstract

Gender dysphoric adolescents report a gender identity which is incongruent with their assigned sex at birth, whereby the experienced incongruence is accompanied by clinically relevant distress. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the mental health of transgender youth by assigned sex at birth. A total of n = 49 adolescents (n = 29 assigned females at birth, n = 20 assigned male at birth) aged 12 to 18 years with the diagnosis of gender dysphoria according to DSM-5 were included in the study. The adolescents underwent a psychological assessment in a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient department prior to starting gender-affirming medical treatment, completing relevant mental health questionnaires. Although no differences were found in psychiatric disorders, more externalizing problems above the clinical threshold were reported by parents in assigned female at birth (AFAB) adolescents. On the other hand, internalizing problems, both in general and within the clinical range, were found to be more prevalent in assigned male at birth (AMAB) adolescents, as indicated by self-report. Our results suggest that a comprehensive assessment of mental health in gender dysphoric adolescents is crucial for understanding the diverse range of challenges they may face and tailoring appropriate interventions to address their specific needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

13 pages, 1958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Being Ignored on WhatsApp Hurt? A Pilot Study on the Effect of a Newly Developed Ostracism Task for Adolescents

by Delia Latina, Andreas Goreis, Polona Sajko and Oswald D. Kothgassner

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 2056; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12052056 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3266

Abstract

(1) Background: Many studies have used a well-known social exclusion task, namely Cyberball, to assess the psychophysiological reactions to ostracism in laboratory settings. However, this task has been recently criticized for its lack of realism. Instant messaging communication platforms are currently central communication channels where adolescents conduct their social life. These should be considered when recreating the emotional experiences that fuel the development of negative emotions. To overcome this limitation, a new ostracism task, namely SOLO (Simulated On-Line Ostracism), recreating hostile interactions (i.e., exclusion and rejection) over WhatsApp was developed. The aim of this manuscript is to compare adolescents’ self-reported negative and positive affect, as well as physiological reactivity (i.e., heat rate, HR; heart rate variability, HRV) exhibited during SOLO to Cyberball. (2) Method: A total of 35 participants (Mage = 15.16; SD = 1.48; 24 females) took part in the study. The first group (n = 23; transdiagnostic group), recruited at an inpatient and outpatient unit of a clinic for children and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychosomatic therapy in Baden-Württemberg (Germany), reported clinical diagnoses linked with emotional dysregulation (e.g., self-injury and depression). The second group (n = 12; control group), recruited in the district of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, had no pre-existing clinical diagnoses. (3) Results: The transdiagnostic group showed higher HR (b = 4.62, p < 0.05) and lower HRV (b = 10.20, p < 0.01) in SOLO than in Cyberball. They also reported increased negative affect (interaction b = −0.5, p < 0.01) after SOLO but not after Cyberball. In the control group, no differences in either HR (p = 0.34) or HRV (p = 0.08) between tasks were found. In addition, no difference in negative affect after either task (p = 0.83) was found. (4) Conclusion: SOLO could be an ecologically valid alternative to Cyberball when assessing reactions to ostracism in adolescents with emotional dysregulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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16 pages, 642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life in Austrian Adolescents with Chronic Physical Health Conditions: Results from the MHAT Study

by Gudrun Wagner, Andreas Karwautz, Julia Philipp, Stefanie Truttmann, Wolfgang Dür, Karin Waldherr, Gabriele Berger and Michael Zeiler

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12051927 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3118

Abstract

Chronic physical health conditions (CPHC) are on the rise in younger age groups and might have a negative impact on children and adolescents. In a representative sample of Austrian adolescents aged 10–18 years, internalizing, externalizing, and behavioral problems were assessed cross-sectionally using the Youth Self-Report and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) using the KIDSCREEN questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables, life events, and chronic illness specific parameters were considered as associated variables with mental health problems in individuals with CPHC. Of 3469 adolescents, 9.4% of girls and 7.1% of boys suffered from a chronic pediatric illness. Of these individuals, 31.7% and 11.9% had clinically relevant levels of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems, respectively, compared to 16.3% and 7.1% adolescents without a CPHC. Anxiety, depression, and social problems were twice as high in this population. Medication intake due to CPHC and any traumatic life-event were related to mental health problems. All HrQoL domains were deteriorated in adolescents with a double burden of mental and CPHC, whereas adolescents with a CPHC without mental health problems did not differ significantly from adolescents without a chronic illness. Targeted prevention programs for adolescents with a CPHC are urgently needed to prevent mental health problems in the long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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16 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Initial Evidence for Positive Effects of a Psychological Preparation Program for MRI “iMReady” in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type I and Brain Tumors—How to Meet the Patients’ Needs Best

by Liesa Josephine Weiler-Wichtl, Jonathan Fries, Verena Fohn-Erhold, Agathe Schwarzinger, Angelika Elisabeth Holzer, Thomas Pletschko, Julia Furtner-Srajer, Daniela Prayer, Paul Bär, Irene Slavc, Andreas Peyrl, Amedeo Azizi, Rita Hansl and Ulrike Leiss

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12051902 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

To provide an effective alternative to sedation during MRI examinations in pediatric cancer and NF1 patients, the aims of the present study were to (1) exploratively evaluate a behavioral MRI training program, to (2) investigate potential moderators, as well as to (3) assess the patients’ well-being over the course of the intervention. A total of n = 87 patients of the neuro-oncology unit (mean age: 6.83 years) underwent a two-step MRI preparation program, including training inside the scanner, and were recorded using a process-oriented screening. In addition to the retrospective analysis of all data, a subset of 17 patients were also analyzed prospectively. Overall, 80% of the children receiving MRI preparation underwent the MRI scan without sedation, making the success rate almost five times higher than that of a group of 18 children that opted out of the training program. Memory, attentional difficulties, and hyperactivity were significant neuropsychological moderators for successful scanning. The training was associated with favorable psychological well-being. These findings suggest that our MRI preparation could present an alternative to sedation of young patients undergoing MRI examinations as well as a promising tool for improving patients’ treatment-related well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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12 pages, 702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building Blocks for Deep Phenotyping in Infancy: A Use Case Comparing Spontaneous Neuromotor Functions in Prader-Willi Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy

by Dajie Marschik-Zhang, Jun Wang, Xiushu Shen, Xiaoyun Zhu, Herong Gao, Hong Yang and Peter B. Marschik

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030784 - 18 Jan 2023

Viewed by 10139

Abstract

With the increasing worldwide application of the Prechtl general movements assessment (GMA) beyond its original field of the early prediction of cerebral palsy (CP), substantial knowledge has been gained on early neuromotor repertoires across a broad spectrum of diagnostic groups. Here, we aimed to profile the neuromotor functions of infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and to compare them with two other matched groups. One group included infants with CP; the other included patients who were treated at the same clinic and turned out to have inconspicuous developmental outcomes (IOs). The detailed GMA, i.e., the motor optimality score-revised (MOS-R), was used to prospectively assess the infants’ (N = 54) movements. We underwent cross-condition comparisons to characterise both within-group similarities and variations and between-group distinctions and overlaps in infants’ neuromotor functions. Although infants in both the PWS and the CP groups scored similarly low on MOS-R, their motor patterns were different. Frog-leg and mantis-hand postures were frequently seen in the PWS group. However, a PWS-specific general movements pattern was not observed. We highlight that pursuing in-depth knowledge within and beyond the motor domain in different groups has the potential to better understand different conditions, improve accurate diagnosis and individualised therapy, and contribute to deep phenotyping for precision medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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22 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Please Don’t Compliment Me! Fear of Positive Evaluation and Emotion Regulation—Implications for Adolescents’ Social Anxiety

by Achilleas Tsarpalis-Fragkoulidis, Rahel Lea van Eickels and Martina Zemp

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(20), 5979; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11205979 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4196

Abstract

In recent years, fear of positive evaluation has emerged as one of the key aspects of social anxiety, alongside fear of negative evaluation. Fears of evaluation intensify during adolescence, a time when individuals are expected to navigate new, emotionally challenging situations. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between social anxiety, fear of positive and negative evaluation, and three emotion regulation strategies relevant to social anxiety, i.e., suppression, acceptance, and rumination. To this end, data were collected from 647 adolescents via an online survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. We found that fear of negative evaluation was significantly related to rumination, whereas fear of positive evaluation was significantly and negatively related to acceptance. We further found an indirect effect of social anxiety on suppression via fear of positive evaluation and acceptance in a serial mediation and an indirect effect of social anxiety on rumination via fear of negative evaluation. Not only do fears of positive and negative evaluation appear to be distinct constructs, but they are also differentially associated with three emotion regulation strategies pertinent to social anxiety. Fear of evaluation and its associations with emotion regulation deficits might hinder the therapeutic process by acting as a deterrent to positive reinforcement or potentially impeding the development of a successful therapeutic alliance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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Review

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10 pages, 207 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Sotos Syndrome: Explorative Review Building Multidisciplinary Bridges in Clinical Practice

by Sigita Lesinskiene, Reda Montvilaite, Kamile Pociute, Ausra Matuleviciene and Algirdas Utkus

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(8), 2204; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082204 - 11 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1464

Abstract

Background: Sotos syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by NSD1 gene (nuclear receptor binding SET domain containing protein 1) variants and characterized by overgrowth, macrocephaly, learning disabilities, and co-occurring neuropsychiatric symptoms. Methods: Literature sources published in 2002–2023 were selected and analyzed from PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Results: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are observed among children and adolescents with Sotos syndrome. The majority have intellectual disabilities or borderline intellect. Verbal IQ is higher than performance IQ. Individuals display difficulties in expressing language. Aggression is reported by parents. Children express autistic behavior, ADHD, anxiety based on phobias, and early bedtime-wake times. Conclusions: Sotos syndrome is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders in children. Slow intellectual and language development, aggressive outbursts, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and hyperactivity are present in the newest studies. Comprehensive assistance is needed for Sotos syndrome patients in responding to areas of difficulty. There is still a lack of research on the developmental characteristics of these children and the possibilities of improving psychosocial adaptation by providing multidisciplinary long-term medical, educational, and social care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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12 pages, 2654 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mobile Solutions for Clinical Surveillance and Evaluation in Infancy—General Movement Apps

by Peter B. Marschik, Amanda K. L. Kwong, Nelson Silva, Joy E. Olsen, Martin Schulte-Rüther, Sven Bölte, Maria Örtqvist, Abbey Eeles, Luise Poustka, Christa Einspieler, Karin Nielsen-Saines, Dajie Zhang and Alicia J. Spittle

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(10), 3576; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103576 - 20 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

The Prechtl General Movements Assessment (GMA) has become a clinician and researcher toolbox for evaluating neurodevelopment in early infancy. Given that it involves the observation of infant movements from video recordings, utilising smartphone applications to obtain these recordings seems like the natural progression for the field. In this review, we look back on the development of apps for acquiring general movement videos, describe the application and research studies of available apps, and discuss future directions of mobile solutions and their usability in research and clinical practice. We emphasise the importance of understanding the background that has led to these developments while introducing new technologies, including the barriers and facilitators along the pathway. The GMApp and Baby Moves apps were the first ones developed to increase accessibility of the GMA, with two further apps, NeuroMotion and InMotion, designed since. The Baby Moves app has been applied most frequently. For the mobile future of GMA, we advocate collaboration to boost the field’s progression and to reduce research waste. We propose future collaborative solutions, including standardisation of cross-site data collection, adaptation to local context and privacy laws, employment of user feedback, and sustainable IT structures enabling continuous software updating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Updates on Psychology in Children and Adolescents)

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