Editorial: The role of digital technology in children and young people's mental health – a triple-edged sword?

The rapid expansion of access to, and engagement with, the Internet and digital technology over the past 15 or so years has transformed the social, educational and therapeutic space occupied by children and young people in contemporary society in remarkable ways. First, it has created previously unimaginable opportunities for learning and development and personal exploration and growth. Second, it seems that the very same qualities and characteristics of the Internet that make these positive contributions possible, such as its immediacy, portability, intimacy, unconstrained reach and lack of supervision and regulation of content, has opened children and young people up to a range of serious social, intellectual and mental health risks. Finally, over and above these 'effects', the digital space is increasingly successfully being harnessed for the identification and treatment of mental health problems. Accordingly, the Internet is not so much a double-, as a triple-edged sword, with regard to children’s mental health.     

Are virtual worlds a threat to the mental health of children and adolescents?]

Video games and the Internet cause enthusiasm but also worry. Among the possible risks, addiction (dependency), isolation, retiring within oneself, and loss of reality, are often put forward. Available data show that serious problems remain exceptional and non-specific, and that these new technological supports do not create new pathologies. Excessive use and isolation have to be solved on an educational basis. Nevertheless, virtual reality, whose applications for the general public are still considered part of the future, needs particular attention.     

Children’s virilization and the use of a testosterone gel by their fathers

We report severe virilization in three unrelated children by contact with their fathers, who had been using a testosterone lipogel.     

Editorial Perspective: Adolescents’ fragile sleep—shining light on a time of risk to mental health

As many other facets of life—biological, behavioral, psychological, cognitive, and social—undergo change during adolescence, so too does sleep. The context of sleep behavior is modified by alterations to underlying bioregulatory processes that challenge sleep’s timing, regularity, and quantity. The buildup of sleep pressure during the day gets slower, opening the door for youth to stay awake later; however, the amount of sleep required does not diminish. Further, the circadian timing system delays, again providing the biological impetus for later sleep. When these changes meet societal demands for early wake, most teens cannot find a way to get enough sleep at a consistent time from night to night. Insufficient and irregular sleep provides a fragile foundation to support mental health.     

What’s in a name? Attitudes surrounding the use of the term ‘mental retardation’

Over the past 200 years, there have been periodic shifts in the terminology used to describe what is still most commonly referred to in the medical world as ‘mental retardation’. There are differing opinions about the acceptability of the term, but very little existing evidence on which clinicians can base their decisions regarding what terminology to use with patients and families, and with one another. The present survey of parents and professionals used questions based on paper-based clinical scenarios to survey each group’s attitudes about terminology usage. The results of both the parent and professional surveys support a move away from the use of the term mental retardation. The majority of parents indicated that they would be upset if a physician used the term mental retardation. Some professionals reported being criticized for using the term. Teaching about terminology has been variable.     

Commentary: Let’s get digital: a commentary on Halldorsson et al.'s call for more rigorous development and evaluation of immersive digital interventions for children and young people's mental health

In the JCPP Annual Research Review for 2021, Halldorsson and colleagues (2021) present a systematic review of applied games and virtual reality interventions for treating mental health problems in children and young people, looking at the effectiveness of interventions upon mental health outcomes but also on the experience of using such interventions. In this commentary, we highlight a number of considerations in understanding what research has been achieved so far, and ideas for what needs to be looked at next in further advancing this field.     

Editorial: ‘In our time’: Has the pandemic changed the way we write and read mental health and neurodevelopmental disorder research reviews?

The past year was marked by upheaval, as countries across the globe shut down in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the topics for this year’s Annual Research Review were decided long before most of had heard of the coronavirus, many readers may find themselves reading the papers in this issue through a pandemic lens. For some authors, the COVID-19 pandemic and the social unrest that characterized parts of the world where these authors live are likely to have shaped the way they ultimately framed the topics of their reviews. This issue serves as a reminder that it is critical to read science in social and historical context. Our preoccupations as psychologists and psychiatrists reflect our cultural values and societal experiences at a particular time and place.     

Environmental factors affecting children’s respiratory health in the first years of life: a review of the scientific literature

The aim of this paper is to quantitatively summarize the original articles on the relationship between environmental hazards and respiratory health in young children. A search was carried out in the main biomedical bibliographical sources in December 2006 and then the results were updated in June 2007. The study period covered 11 years (1996-2006). The information was assessed by reviewing the abstracts. Six hundred and forty documents were recovered. Documents from the United States accounted for 23.5% of articles. The production tended to increase over the study period. The factor most widely studied was air pollution, with outdoor air pollution being studied more (just over 50% of articles) than indoor air pollution (40%). Asthma was the most often studied condition (75% of articles). In a third of the cases, the information was obtained from hospital or health center records, and in 20% from questionnaires. The main diagnostic criterion was clinical. Infection of the inferior respiratory tracts predominated in children less than 3 years of age. An awareness of the role played by pollution and environmental hazards is fundamental in the management and prevention of respiratory problems in childhood, and this is reflected in the literature reviewed. However, very few synthesis studies have been carried out on this matter.     

Do male and female adolescents differ in the effect of individual and family characteristics on their use of psychotropic drugs?

This study assesses the effects of individual and family characteristics on psychotropic drug use among male and female adolescents. The sample included 2,396 subjects attending two middle schools and two high schools. Respondents completed self-administered questionnaires covering gender, age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, illicit drug use, tiredness during the daytime, self-reported personality traits, family conditions, and psychotropic drug use. The data were analyzed using logistic models. The prevalence of frequent psychotropic drug use (for headache, tiredness, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia) was 43.0% overall; twice as high among girls than boys. Among the girls, frequent psychotropic drug use was associated with frequent tiredness during the daytime (adjusted odds ratio OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.61–2.57), smoking (2.02, 1.50–2.71), alcohol use (1.34, 1.04–1.74), higher body mass index (>18 kg/m², 1.54, 1.16–2.04), poor family atmosphere (1.33, 1.03–1.72), and being worried (1.93, 1.53–2.43) or easily becoming irritable (1.28, 1.01–1.62). In boys the factors with significant ORs were frequent tiredness during the daytime (2.21, 1.67–2.93), alcohol use (1.52, 1.15–2.01), and being worried (1.70, 1.28–2.26) or easily becoming irritable (1.42, 1.06–1.89); univariate analysis revealed a significant relationship with smoking and family atmosphere. An association was also observed for illicit drugs in both sexes and for age≥17 years in girls. Individual and family characteristics have marked influence on psychotropic drug use among both male and female adolescents. Preventive measures should be taken to make adolescents and their parents more aware of the risks and to improve their living conditions.     

Living with type 1 diabetes mellitus: How does the condition affect children's and adolescents’ quality of life?

ObjectiveOur study aimed to measure the health-related quality of life (QoL) of Tunisian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1MD).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 48 patients aged 3–18 years with T1MD, diagnosed for at least 6 months, and their parents, who underwent outpatient examinations from September to December 2018. The children's QoL was assessed using the PedQL 3.0 Diabetes Module exploring five dimensions: diabetes symptoms, treatment barriers, treatment adherence, worry, and communication problems. Parents shared their perception of their children's QoL through the PedQL 4.0 parents’ report (general health and emotional, social, and scholar functioning). Glycemic control was assessed using the last glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) values.ResultsThe patients’ average QoL score was 80.52 (± 13.61) without significant differences between gender and age. The longer the duration of the disease, the worse the glycemic control. Girls and adolescents seemed to have poorer glycemic control. Boys and adolescents had more difficulties in all aspects of QoL. Parents perceived a worse QoL than that reported by their sons/daughters (72.34 ± 16.42; P = 0.006).ConclusionThese findings emphasize the importance of an interdisciplinary, biopsychosocial, and family-centered care approach to patients with T1MD.     

Does mothers’ perception of social support mediate the relationship between fecal incontinence and quality of life of the child?

Purpose

Fecal incontinence is a common problem in children and adolescents with anorectal malformation (ARM) and may negatively impact psycho-social well-being. Mothers’ perception of social support has been proved to contribute to children’s quality of life (QOL). Considering ARM studies, the role of family and social resources have received little attention. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether mothers’ perception of social support mediates the impact of child fecal incontinence on his/her QOL.

Methods

One hundred and nine mothers with a child born with ARM (aged 6–15 years old; mean age = 11 years) completed questionnaires including the fecal incontinence subscale of the Hirschsprung’s Disease/Anorectal Malformation QOL Questionnaire, the Pediatric QOL Inventory, and a social relationship questionnaire. Structural equation models were used to explore the relations hypothesized.

Results

No differences were found in the QOL scores across gender. The hypothesized model fits the data well; mothers’ perception of social support partially mediated the relationship between fecal incontinence and QOL.

Conclusions

An important direction for pediatric surgeons and their interdisciplinary teams may be to develop strategies to strengthen mothers’ social relationships.     

Parents’ use of physical and verbal punishment: cross-sectional study in underprivileged neighborhoods

Objective

To estimate the past-year prevalence of parental use of verbal and physical discipline in an urban sample.