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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 (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 11593

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Dr. Luca Cerniglia

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Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: developmental psychopathology; trauma; eating disorders; internalizing/externalizing symptoms
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to our Special Issue on Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology. In this clinical-focused Special Issue, we delve into cutting-edge research and practices at the intersection of medicine and psychology. Discover how tailored approaches in diagnosis and treatment are transforming pediatric mental health care, addressing individual needs, genetic factors, and environmental influences. Join us as we explore innovative strategies that ensure brighter futures for our young minds, advancing towards a more precise and compassionate era of children's mental health and well-being.

Dr. Luca Cerniglia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

precision medicine
pediatric psychiatry
personalized interventions
genomic testing
behavioral therapy
pharmacogenomics
early intervention
therapeutic approaches
neurodevelopmental disorders
evidence-based practices

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 139 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Advancing Personalized Interventions: A Paradigm Shift in Psychological and Health-Related Treatment Strategies

by Luca Cerniglia

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(15), 4353; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13154353 - 25 Jul 2024

Viewed by 767

Abstract

In recent years, the field of psychological and health-related interventions has seen a paradigm shift towards personalized and tailored approaches [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

2 pages, 168 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Personalized Psychological Interventions in Children: Harnessing Advancements in Genetic and Epigenetic Research

by Luca Cerniglia

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(16), 5311; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165311 - 15 Aug 2023

Viewed by 796

Abstract

Advancements in genetic and epigenetic research have opened new avenues for personalized psychological intervention in children [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

Research

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17 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parent Explanatory Model Personalization as a Method of Reducing Risk for Poor Engagement and Outcomes in PCIT among Culturally Diverse Families

by Argero Zerr, Kristen McCabe, Dongbowei Zhang and May Yeh

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3541; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123541 - 17 Jun 2024

Viewed by 731

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Evidence supports the efficacy of Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) interventions such as Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for treating child behavior problems; however, treatment engagement and outcomes vary across ethnic groups. Risk for poor treatment engagement and outcomes may be attributed in part to misalignment between parent explanatory model components (PEMs) and the traditional BPT model, including treatment expectations, etiological explanations, parenting styles, and family support for treatment. The present study aims to examine whether personalized treatment adaptations addressing these PEM–BPT misalignments reduce risk for poor treatment engagement and outcomes. Methods: The authors previously utilized the PersIn framework to develop a personalized version of PCIT (MY PCIT) that assesses these PEMs in order to identify families at risk for poor treatment engagement and outcomes. Families were identified as high risk (due to PEM–BPT misalignment) and low risk (meaning those without identified PEM–BPT misalignment) for specific PEMs. Families at elevated risk then received tailored treatment materials designed to improve alignment between the parental explanatory model and the PCIT treatment explanatory model. A recent pilot trial of MY PCIT demonstrated positive treatment outcomes; however, the extent to which adaptations were successful in reducing the underlying risk factors has not yet been examined. Results: Findings demonstrate that the personalization approach was effective in reducing indicators of risk, and that families who were initially at high and low risk during pre-treatment reported similar levels of treatment engagement and outcomes by post-treatment. Conclusions: The findings suggest that this personalized approach has the potential to reduce risk associated with poor treatment engagement and outcomes for culturally diverse families. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

11 pages, 408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Gender Differences in Early Weight Change and Variability in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa during Inpatient Treatment

by Georg Halbeisen, Karsten Braks, Thomas J. Huber and Georgios Paslakis

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3255; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113255 - 31 May 2024

Viewed by 609

Abstract

Background: Adolescents’ early responses and overall outcomes during anorexia nervosa (AN) treatment may differ by patient gender, raising the question of whether evaluating clinical data during AN treatment may require different criteria. Methods: We investigated, using patient records, whether young men and young women with AN differed in terms of early treatment response (defined as weight change and variability within the first 14 days) and whether early treatment responses predicted treatment outcomes similarly across genders. Results: Weight changes predicted patient discharge weight across all gender groups. Weight variability predicted higher disordered eating psychopathology and higher body image insecurities at discharge. Gender differences emerged only for weight gain, which was more pronounced for young men, and gender modulated the effects of weight gain and variability on general psychopathology outcomes. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that early weight changes and weight variability are similarly important predictors of AN treatment outcomes in adolescents but also hint at possible gender differences in terms of the link between weight change and, respectively, variability on general psychopathology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

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13 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adolescent Social Anxiety, School Satisfaction, Family Emotional Support, and School Absenteeism: Findings from Young-HUNT3 and Norwegian National Education Data

by Malik D. Halidu and Yasuhiro Kotera

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(9), 2547; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13092547 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1149

Abstract

Background: Adolescents grappling with social anxiety may experience poor school satisfaction, resorting to school-related avoidance behaviors, exemplified by absenteeism, as a coping mechanism. Understanding the role of family support in alleviating the adverse effects of social anxiety on school satisfaction is imperative for fostering supportive educational settings. Although there is literature regarding how school satisfaction promotes positive adolescent outcomes, empirical knowledge on the interrelation between social anxiety, school satisfaction, and family emotional support is limited. This study investigates the association between social anxiety, family emotional support, school satisfaction, and school absenteeism within the theoretical framework of the stage-environment fit theory to offer insight into how family emotional support can moderate the influence of social anxiety on school-related outcomes. Methods: Utilizing a population-based sample of 1861 upper secondary school pupils from the Trøndelag Young Health study “Young-HUNT3 study”, we employed an index of moderated mediation to examine the role of family emotional support in moderating the association between social anxiety and school-related avoidance behavior related to school satisfaction. Results: Family emotional support had moderated mediation association for school absenteeism (β = 0.128, 95% CI 0.019, 0.278) and extracurricular activity (β = −0.003, 95% CI −0.008, −0.000). Conclusions: This urges further investigation into the specific mechanisms and individual differences influencing these relationships, aiming to deepen our understanding of adolescents’ experiences and inform comprehensive strategies for promoting their well-being within school communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

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10 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional and Behavioral Impairment and Comorbid Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Anna Guerrini Usubini, Michela Bottacchi, Adele Bondesan, Francesca Frigerio, Nicoletta Marazzi, Gianluca Castelnuovo and Alessandro Sartorio

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(7), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13072068 - 3 Apr 2024

Viewed by 892

Abstract

Background: The current study aims to assess the psychological conditions of Italian adolescents with obesity seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program, by exploring their psychological adjustment, emotional states, and co-occurring eating disorder symptoms. Methods: The study involved ninety-two consecutive Italian adolescents with obesity (31 males, 61 females), with a mean age ± SD: 16.4 ± 1.1 years and body mass index (BMI): 38.3 ± 6.04 kg/m²). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) were used for the evaluations. Differences between genders, degrees of obesity (Group 1 = BMI SDS 2–2.99 and Group 2: BMI SDS > 3), and those with or without eating disorder symptoms (Group 1: EAT-26 ≤ 20 and Group 2: EAT-26 > 20) were explored. Results: The results showed that females reported higher scores on the Emotional Symptoms, Prosocial Behaviors, Total Difficulties, and Total Impact subscales of the SDQ, the BDI, both subscales of the STAI, and the Bulimia subscales of the EAT-26 than males, independently from the degrees of obesity. Participants with eating disorder symptoms (Group 2: EAT-26 > 20) showed higher scores on the Emotional Symptoms and Total Difficulties subscales of the SDQ, the BDI, and both subscales of the STAI than those of Group 1 (EAT-26 ≤ 20). Conclusions: The study explores the psychological conditions of adolescents with obesity. The results can inform appropriate treatment approaches for the management of obesity in developmental age groups, which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects of obesity, but also the behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties expressed by adolescents, in addition to specific eating disorder symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

10 pages, 237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mothers with Dysregulated Eating and Their Offspring’s Emotional/Behavioral Functioning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Study

by Luca Cerniglia and Silvia Cimino

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(4), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13041018 - 9 Feb 2024

Viewed by 981

Abstract

Objective: Research on the psychopathological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has not specifically focused on mothers with dysregulated eating and their children. Methods: This study aimed to observe whether the symptoms of mothers with binge eating episodes (assessed through the SCL-90/R and the TFEQ-R18) worsened from the pre-pandemic period (T1) to the pandemic period (T2). In addition, we sought to assess whether the levels of internalizing/externalizing and dysregulation symptoms in children (assessed through the CBCL 6–18) worsened from T1 to T2. Results: Our results showed that the values obtained for mothers in the SCL-90/R were significantly higher at T2 (during the pandemic), particularly for Depression, Phobic Anxiety, Interpersonal Sensitivity, and Obsessive–Compulsive subscales. Moreover, in both the Emotional Eating and Uncontrolled Eating subscales of the TFEQ-R18, mothers at T2 scored substantially higher than mothers at T1. The emotional/behavioral functioning of children was more maladaptive at T2, according to mothers, especially for the subscales of Withdrawn, Anxious/Depressed, and Aggressive Behavior. Children also had significantly higher scores on the Internalizing and Externalizing subscales, as well as greater symptoms of dysregulation. Conclusions: This study contributes to demonstrating that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had increased maladaptive emotional/behavioral functioning in children and their mothers with dysregulated eating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

29 pages, 4062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Katrin Cunitz, Ivana Holloway, Anne Harzendorf, Sven Greving, Marina Zeldovich, Ugne Krenz, Dagmar Timmermann, Inga K. Koerte, Michaela Veronika Bonfert, Steffen Berweck, Matthias Kieslich, Knut Brockmann, Maike Roediger, Anna Buchheim, Nada Andelic, Michael Lendt, Michael Staebler, Holger Muehlan and Nicole von Steinbuechel

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7439; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237439 - 30 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1453

Abstract

Pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as a measure of subjective wellbeing and functioning has received increasing attention over the past decade. HRQoL in children and adolescents following pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) has been poorly studied, and performing adequate measurements in this population is challenging. This study compares child/adolescent and parent reports of HRQoL following pTBI using the newly developed Quality of Life after Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents (QOLIBRI-KID/ADO) questionnaire. Three hundred dyads of 8–17-year-old children/adolescents and their parents were included in the study. The parent–child agreement, estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients and Cohen’s κ, displayed poor to moderate concordance. Approximately two-fifths of parents (39.3%) tended to report lower HRQoL for their children/adolescents on the total QOLIBRI-KID/ADO score. At the same time, about one-fifth (21.3%) reported higher HRQoL Total scores for their children/adolescents. The best agreement for parents rating adolescents (aged 13–17 years) was found in terms of the Total score and the Cognition and Self scale scores. To date, parent-reported HRQoL has been the preferred choice in pediatric research after TBI. However, with a parent–child disagreement of approximately 60%, our results highlight the importance of considering self-reports for children/adolescents capable of answering or completing the HRQoL measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

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12 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediating Effect of Stress Recognition on the Effect of Generalized Anxiety Disorder on Smartphone Dependence

by Se Ryeon Lee, Eun-Yeob Kim, Seunghan Ha and Jaeyoung Kim

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7359; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237359 - 28 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1217

Abstract

The widespread adoption of the smartphone has led to both positive and negative consequences for adolescents’ mental health. This study examines the interplay between smartphone dependence (SPD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and various mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Data from the 16th Adolescence Health Behavior Survey (2020), including 54,948 middle and high school students, were analyzed. Adolescents were categorized into three groups based on SPD severity. The GAD-7 scale assessed anxiety, and other factors such as subjective health recognition, happiness, weight control efforts, and body mass index (BMI) were considered. Adolescents with higher SPD exhibited lower academic performance, decreased happiness, and increased perception of stress. GAD levels were positively correlated with SPD, with higher SPD linked to more severe GAD symptoms. Additionally, higher SPD was associated with increased loneliness, sadness, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts as well as a greater likelihood of habitual drug use. Gender differences revealed that females were more prone to sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, while males exhibited higher rates of drug use. This study highlights the complex relationship between SPD, GAD, and mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Stress recognition was found to mediate the association between GAD and SPD. The process-macro result of the total effect between SPD on GAD and the direct effect of the SPD pathway on GAD was significant; thus, the stress recognition was mediated. Effective interventions should target stress management, especially among adolescents with high smartphone dependence, to mitigate the risk of mental health issues. These findings underscore the importance of addressing smartphone dependence and its impact on the mental well-being of adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

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Other

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21 pages, 4210 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Prevalence of Sleep Disturbances in Latin American Populations and Its Association with Their Socioeconomic Status—A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

by F. A. Etindele Sosso, Filipa Torres Silva, Rita Queiroz Rodrigues, Margarida M. Carvalho, Sofia Zoukal and Gabriel Cordova Zarate

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(24), 7508; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12247508 - 5 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2195

Abstract

Background: The worldwide increase in the prevalence and incidence of sleep disturbances represents a major public health issue. Among multiple determinants affecting sleep health, an individual’s socioeconomic status (SES) is the most ignored and underestimated throughout the literature. No systematic review on the relation between SES and sleep health has been previously conducted in Latin America. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were used. Results: Twenty articles were included in the final sample (all cross-sectional studies), and twelve among them were rated as fair or poor quality. Among these studies, 80.0% (n = 16) were performed in Brazil, 10.0% (n = 2) were performed in Peru, 5.0% (n = 1) were performed in Chile, and 5.0% (n = 1) were multicentric (11 countries). The combined total number of participants was N = 128.455, comprising 3.7% (n = 4693) children, 16.0% (n = 20,586) adolescents, and 80.3% (n = 103,176) adults. The results show the following: (1) The sleep outcomes analyzed were sleep duration, sleep quality/sleep disturbance, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)/sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms, and bruxism. (2) The most used determinants were income, education level, employment status/occupation, wealth/assets, and composite indices. (3) Higher SES was associated with shorter sleep duration. (4) Lower SES was associated with a decrease in sleep quality, less frequent snoring, more prevalent EDS, and sleep bruxism. (5) Lower education was associated with insomnia. (6) Higher education was associated with more sleep bruxism. (7) The pooled prevalence using a meta-analysis of the random effects model was 24.73% (95%CI, 19.98–30.19), with high heterogeneity (I² = 100%). (8) The prevalence of sleep disturbances decreased with high education (OR, 0.83; 95%CI, [0.69–0.99]; I² = 79%), while it increased with low income (OR, 1.26; 95%CI, [1.12–1.42]; I² = 59%), unemployment (OR, 2.84; 95%CI, [2.14–3.76]; I² = 0%), and being a housewife (OR, 1.72; 95%CI, [1.19–2.48]; I² = 55%). Discussion: This meta-analysis shows that lower SES (education, income, and work) was associated with sleep disturbances in Latin America. Therefore, sleep disturbance management should be addressed with a multidimensional approach, and a significant investment in targeted public health programs to reduce sleep disparities and support research should be made by the government before the situation becomes uncontrollable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine in Children and Adolescent Psychology)

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