1,721,022 research outputs found
Sabatino, A. C., Fimiani, F., Operto, F. F., Pastorino, G. M., Petruccelli, F., Saladino, V., ... & Coppola, G. (2021). THERAPEUTIC FILMMAKING, STRATEGIC PSYCHOTHERAPY AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH. Journal of Psychological and Educational Research, 29(2), 56-89.
No full textMonitoring and managing depression in adolescents with epilepsy: Current perspectives
No full textEpilepsy is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing depressive disorder during adolescence. On the other hand, depression is highly detected in adolescents with epilepsy. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and proper management of comorbid depression in adolescent age. The prevalence of depressive disorders in adolescents with epilepsy ranges between 8 and 35% and is higher than the general population of the same age. The relationship between epilepsy and depression is complex and potentially bidirectional, thereby suggesting a common underlying pathophysiology. Furthermore, failure to detect and treat depressive disorder mostly in adolescence could lead to several negative implications such as an increased risk of suicidal ideation or behavior and poor quality of life. A number of methods are available to detect depressive disorder, such as psychiatric or psychological assessments, structured or semi-structured interviews, and self-report screening tools. Thus, physicians should be able to regularly screen depressive symptoms in youths with epilepsy. Recently, the NDDI-E-Y inventory has been developed from the adult NDDI-E, and has been validated in many countries. NDDI-E-Y has showed reliable validity, being a brief screening tool (12 items) that can be easily included in routine epilepsy care. The first step to be considered for the management of depressive disorder in adolescents with epilepsy is to consider potential reversible causes of anxiety and depression (i.e., a new AEDs; seizure control). Secondly, great attention has to be given to the education of the child/adolescent and his/her family, trying to improve knowledge about epilepsy as well as to decrease parental stress and improving the child's sense of competence. Pharmacological treatment should also be considered in adolescents diagnosed with depression
Topiramate in children and adolescents with epilepsy and mental retardation: a prospective study on behavior and cognitive effects
No full textThe aim of the present study was to assess the behavioral and cognitive effects following treatment with topiramate in children and
adolescents with epilepsy with mild to profound mental retardation. The study group comprised 29 children, 16 males and 13 females,
aged 3 to 19 years, affected by partial (4) and generalized (25) crypto/symptomatic epilepsy and mental retardation (7 mild, 5 moderate,
15 severe, 2 profound), who were administered topiramate (TPM) as add-on therapy to their baseline antiepileptic treatment. At baseline,
3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, parents or caregivers of each patient were administered a questionnaire based on the Holmfrid
Quality of Life Inventory. After a 3-month follow-up, the add-on topiramate caused overall mild to moderate cognitive/behavioral worsening
in about 70% of children and adolescents with mental retardation and epilepsy. After 6 and 12 months of follow-up, global worsening
persisted in 31 and 20.1% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, this trial confirms that TPM can have significant adverse cognitive
and behavioral side effects, even in mentally disabled children and adolescents
Parental stress in pediatric epilepsy after therapy withdrawal
No full textObjective: The objective of the study was to explore stress levels in the parents of children with idiopathic epilepsy at different time points of the disease, specifically, at the time of diagnosis, during follow-up, and 1 and 2 years after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs.Methods: Our study included 50 patients between 5 and 14 years of age, who were diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy or idiopathic focal epilepsy with Rolandic paroxysms. Parents of the participants independently completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form at the time of initial diagnosis, and when the children started antiepileptic drugs (Time 0), and at 1 year (Time 1) and 2 years (lime 2) after discontinuation of therapy.Results: At Time 0, parental stress levels were increased, both in mothers and fathers, with average scores in the "clinical range" of the parental distress (PD), dysfunctional parent-child interaction (P-CDI), and total stress (TS) scales. At Time 1, the scores on these scales remained high. At Time 2, a mild reduction in the stress scores was observed in both parents, despite values remaining in the "clinical range" for all the scales.Conclusions: Results suggested that parents of children with epilepsy were not reassured about the child's condition, even after clinical improvement. Parental stress levels remained higher than expected, even 2 years after the discontinuation of therapy and freedom from seizures. This was probably due to concerns with the reappearance of new seizures or a more severe type of epilepsy with the discontinuation of drug(s), and feelings of inadequacy with their parental role(s). (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Association between feeding/mealtime behavior problems and internalizing/externalizing problems in autism spectrum disorder, other neurodevelopmental disorders and typically developing children
No full textBackground: The aim of current study was to examine the nature and prevalence of feeding problems and mealtime behavior problems in children with ASD comparing to children with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NNDs) and TD children. We also investigated the impact of intelligence quotient (IQ) and/or emotional and behavioral problems on feeding and mealtime behavior problems.
Methods: Participants completed the following tests: Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) and Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS).
Results: Children with ASD showed more feeding and mealtime behavior problems including food refusal (p<.001, p<.001) and limited variety of foods (p=.014; p=.018) compared with NDDs and TD children. ASD group showed more problems in mealtime behavior (p=.034) and parent behaviors (p=.028) compared to TD group. Internalizing (p=.003) and externalizing (p=.008) problems were positively related to parent frustration during mealtime in ASD group.
Conclusions: These results suggest that routine screening for feeding and mealtime behavior problems among children with ASD is necessary to prevent dietary inadequacies that may be associated with eating habits.BACKGROUND: The aim of current study was to examine the nature and prevalence of feeding problems and mealtime behavior problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comparing to children with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NNDs) and TDchildren. We also investigated the impact of intelligence quotient (IQ) and/or emotional and behavioral problems on feeding and mealtime behavior problems. METHODS: Participants completed the following tests: Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) and Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). RESULTS: Children with ASDshowed more feeding and mealtime behavior problems including food refusal (P<0.001, P<0.001) and limited variety of foods (P=0.014; P=0.018) compared with NDDs and TDchildren. ASDgroup showed more problems in mealtime behavior (P=0.034) and parent behaviors (P=0.028) compared to TDgroup. Internalizing (P=0.003) and externalizing (P=0.008) problems were positively related to parent frustration during mealtime in ASDgroup. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that routine screening for feeding and mealtime behavior problems among children with ASDis necessary to prevent dietary inadequacies that may be associated with eating habits
Parental stress in a sample of children with epilepsy
No full textObjective To assess maternal and paternal stress in two groups of children with different types of epilepsy, at the time of diagnosis and after one year of follow-up. Methods We investigated parental stress in a sample of 85 children aged between 2 and 14 years, divided into two groups based on the diagnosis: Group 1 (50 patients) with childhood absence epilepsy or idiopathic focal epilepsy with rolandic discharges and Group 2 (35 patients) with different forms of drug-resistant epilepsy. Parents independently completed the Parental Stress Index-Short Form at Time 0, when they received the diagnosis and patients started therapy, and at Time 1, after 1 year of follow-up. Results We found high levels of stress in both mothers and fathers at Time 0, without statistically significant differences between the two groups. At Time 1, stress values were unchanged in Group 1 mothers; conversely, the levels of stress in Group 1 fathers reduced, with average values that all fell within the "normal range." In Group 2, stress levels were reduced both in mothers and in fathers at Time 1, compared to Time 0, but equally fell into the "pathological range," for both parents. Conclusion In our study, the diagnosis of the epilepsy itself tended to increase parental stress, apparently regardless of the severity of the epilepsy; even after a period of follow-up, when the epilepsy was better controlled, overall parental stress remained high. It might have been related to feelings of parental inadequacy or concerns about issues such as safety or the outcome for the child
Memory performances and personality traits in mothers of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Full text linkBackground: Chronic diseases in pediatric age have been identified as stressful risk factors for parents. Studies on caregivers have documented the impact of chronic parenting stress on emotion and cognition.Aim: To investigate the differences between a group of mothers of children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) for at least 4 years and a group of mothers of typically developing children (TDC) in relation to parental stress, self-esteem, locus of control, and memory performances.Methods: A group of 86 mothers (mean age 35.6 +/- 4.9, ranged between 32 and 41 years) of children with OSAS diagnosis, and a group of 52 mothers of TDC (mean age 35.9 +/- 4.2, ranged between 32 and 41 years) participated in the study. All participants were administered stress level, global self-esteem, internal/external locus of control scales, and memory assessment.Results: Mothers of OSAS children, compared to mothers of TDC, had a significantly higher level of stress, lower self-esteem, more external locus of control and poorer memory performance.Conclusions: The child respiratory disease, with its sudden and unpredictable features, appeared as a significant source of stress for the mother. Such stress condition may have an impact on mothers' personality traits (self-esteem, locus of control) and on their memory performances. The data have suggested a need for psychological support programs for mothers to better manage stress associated with children's respiratory disease
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in genetically-determined intellectual disability
No full textBackground: In southern Italy and, specifically, in the region of Campania, many surveys show that the average of students with reading difficulties is much higher than in northern Italy and abroad. On the other hand, specific learning disorders (SLDs) in Campania are much less certified. Since there are no etiological reasons that can explain this apparent inconsistency, an objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the extent of reading/writing difficulties in students from a province of Campania and then to assess the ability of teachers to identify such difficulties in their students.
Methods: Of a total of 241 enrolled students, 155 (64.31%), including 73 from primary school and 82 from secondary school, belonging to 5 schools in the province of Salerno (Italy), took part in the survey. Students' reading and writing skills were assessed through standardized tests. The tests results were then compared with teacher judgments and context-related variables.
Results: At the reading test, 28.7% of primary school and 13.4% of lower secondary school students fell below the 5th percentile for age. Results of the writing test were even more significant: almost half of the students of both levels of education performed below the 5th percentile. Teacher judgments showed higher agreement with standardized assessments in primary (88%, K of Cohen = 0.68) than in secondary school (78%, K = 0.23).
Conclusions: Reading and writing difficulties were common in our sample. While reading skills tended to improve with age, writing difficulties apparently persisted to some extent in third and sixth-grade classes. The accuracy of teacher judgments on reading skills is relatively high, but teachers seem to hardly report reading difficulties "requiring attention". Although less "severe" than others, such difficulties should be taken into account, mainly because of their potential developmental trajectories
Neuroinflammation: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives
No full textBackground: Neuroinflammation is a key component in the etiopathogenesis of neurological diseases and brain aging. This process involves the brain immune system that modulates synaptic functions and protects neurons from infection or damage. Hence, the knowledge of neu-roinflammation related pathways and modulation by drugs or natural compounds is functional to developing therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving, maintaining and restoring brain health. Objective: This review article summarizes the basics of neuroinflammation and related signaling pathways, the success of the dietary intervention in clinical practice and the possible development of RNA-based strategies for treating neurological diseases. Methods: Pubmed search from 2012 to 2022 with the keywords neuroinflammation and molecular mechanisms in combination with diet, miRNA and non-coding RNA. Results: Glial cells-play a crucial role in neuroinflammation, but several pathways can be activated in response to different inflammatory stimuli, inducing cell death by apoptosis, pyroptosis or necroptosis. The dietary intervention has immunomodulatory effects and could limit the inflammatory process induced by microglia and astrocytes. Thus by inhibiting neuroinflammation and improving the symptoms of a variety of neurological diseases, diet exerts pleiotropic neuroprotective effects independently from the spectrum of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the specific disorder. Furthermore, data from animal models revealed that altered expression of specific non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs, contributes to neuroinflammatory diseases; consequently, RNA-based strategies may be promising to alleviate the consequences of neuroinflammation. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to identify the molecular pathways and the new pharmaco-logical targets in neuroinflammation to lay the basis for more effective and selective therapies to be applied, in parallel to dietary intervention, in the treatment of neuroinflammation-based diseases
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