Assessing of voluntary auditory verbal memory, mediated or non-mediated by meaning context is an important component of impaired mental or psychic development estimation in children with different types of dysontogenesis.

Investigation of memory in chidren with mental disorders

Participants: Children 9-12 years: ND - 25 normal development (14 boys), F70 - 31 with mild mental retardation (18 boys), F20.8 - 15 children with childhood type of schizophrenia (11 boys) and F21- 29 with schizotypal disorder (22 boys). Learning of 10 words, simple (SPA) and complex (CPA) paired associations. Assessing Parameter - auditory-speech memory efficiency in each of techniques. Mann-Whitney criterion.

There were significant differences in memory efficiency of 10 words between F21 and F70 (p≤0.01) and F70 and F20.8 (p≤0.05). Simple paired associations - no differences between all groups. Complex paired associations: F21 and F70 (p≤0.05), F21 and F20.8 (p≤0.01). ND - significant differences in memory efficiency of 10 words with all groups (F21 – p ≤0.01, F20.8 – p ≤0.05, F70 – p ≤0.01). SPA: significant differences with all groups (p≤ 0.01). CPA - significant differences words with all groups (F21 – p≤ 0.05, F20.8 – p≤ 0.01, F70 – p ≤0.01).

Сommon features of working memory in children with diseased type of development:- improved memorization with introduction of strong semantic connections for all types of dysontogenesis. For complex connections in different groups we suppose different mechanisms of destroyed memory: F70 - low level of thinking, F20.8 - decreasing in mental activity or as a result of forming defect.

No significant relationships.

Cyberbullying has become more prevalent with the increased use of social media among younger population. It is more harmful than traditional bullying as it can happen at any time, has a much wider audience, and can invade personal space. YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular online platforms among teens. The victims of cyberbullying can present with social anxiety (41%), depression (37%), suicidal thoughts (26%) among many others (self-harm, substance use, etc). In the past year, these numbers have significantly risen due to switch to virtual learning due to the pandemic, hence the risk of exposure to cyberbullying has risen.

To study the impact of cyberbullying on Adolescent Mental health

A review of articles (2016-2021), was done using PubMed and Google scholar focusing on impact of cyberbullying in children and young adults.

John et al group showed that both victims [OR- 2.10 (95% CI 1.73-2.55)] and perpetrators [ OR 1.21 (95% CI 1.02-1.44)] have increased risk of exhibiting suicidal behaviors. Kwan I et al group showed a negative association between cyberbullying and mental health. One study suggested that during the pandemic there has been increased online perpetrators due to increased amount of fear and anger which has projected in the form online aggression.

There is an increase in prevalence of cyberbullying with young population spending more time on internet and social media. Psychoeducation of parents and mental health experts is needed to recognize early warning signs in order to take steps for early intervention.

No significant relationships.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with autistic spectrum disorders may exhibit symptoms that can also appear in psychotic disorders, such as isolation and difficulties in social interaction. In addition, these patients may also present psychotic symptoms throughout their lives, sometimes difficult to differentiate from the patient’s own idiosyncrasies.

OBJECTIVES: To deepen the knowledge of the comorbidity of autism spectrum disorders, in particular psychosis, as well as the differential diagnosis in order to establish an adequate treatment plan and a multidisciplinary approach.

METHODS: A detailed description is given of two cases of adolescents diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder who have presented time-limited psychotic symptomatology in the last year. In addition, a literature search was conducted on the comorbidity of psychosis in patients with ASD.

RESULTS: Both patients have required several hospital admissions to psychiatric units when they have had psychotic decompensations and psychopharmacological treatment with antipsychotics has been initiated.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with autistic spectrum disorders have a wide comorbidity. Psychosis can appear in these patients, often starting in adolescence, a time when social demands increase and patients can become decompensated. They require rapid, multi-level intervention.

No significant relationships.

Dysphasia is widespread among children. Awareness of speech difficulties and emotional attitude toward them may influence different aspects of mental activity. The issue is important for development assessment and discussion on potential risk factors causing other mental disorders.

The aim of the study was to analyze how children with dysphasia perceive their speech defect and how it influences their behaviour.

15 children with dysphasia aged 5 years (6 boys, 9 girls) participated in the study. The following methods were used: not included and included observation in a speech therapy group for 6 months, semi-structured interview with educators.

Observation and interviews enabled to discover two groups featuring different attitudes. 1) The first group (n=12) included children who ignored their speech difficulties. Behavioral and speech activity was confident and spontaneous. Children demonstrated difficulties in planning and regulation of activity, low level of self-criticism. In failure situations, children demonstrated egocentrism, emotional rigidity and experienced difficulties in emotional regulation during assessment. 2) The second group (n=3) experienced high anxiety in communicative situations and estrangement caused by hypersensitivity to speech difficulties. Children preferred to use nonverbal communication and reduce speech initiative due to difficulties in verbal self-expression. Emotional specifics were characterized by recurrent ambivalence in the independent activity. Structured situations, such as assessment, actualized active self-control, which sometimes led to communicative difficulties and stupor.

Results demonstrate various attitudes to speech difficulties in children with dysphasia. Behavioral, emotional and personal features are rich material for discussion on risks in mental development of children with speech disorders.

No significant relationships.

Irreversible damage is caused to the physical and psychic health of teenagers who become alcoholics at an early age. They later become addicted to alcohol which factor leads to the risk of development of chronic diseases, medical and social consequences

Monitoring of subjective reasons and widespread frequency of drinking alcohol by teenagers living in the countryside aged 13-17

One thousand sixty two teenagers volunteered to take part in the study: 55.0% female and 45.0% male. Anonymous survey was used. The forms made up by the Center of Monitoring of Detrimental Habits among Children and Teenagers (Moscow, Russia)

The results of the study undertaken made it possible to see the main reasons for the early formation of drinking habits and the age at which teenagers start to drink. The main reason is the socially widespread myth that alcoholic drinks of a high quality are not detrimental to health at all. One third of the teenage respondents think so. The 42.3% of the young men and 65.3% of the girls show that first drank alcoholic drinks were in the family. Teenagers living in the countryside start to drink at the age of 13 to 17 including. The peak for females is 15-16, for males it is 13-16

Taking into account the significant role of the family in the formation of early drinking habits of teenage males and females living in the countryside and the stable attitudes in family traditions would not help form in teenagers a motivated refusal to drink alcohol

No significant relationships.

Recent studies show that a vegan diet causes a deficiency of vitamins (especially B12) and minerals. This can lead to severe physical and mental illnesses. On the other hand, the vegan diet is recommended as a preventative measure against cardiovascular diseases and is a growing trend among young people in developed countries for ideological reasons such as animal welfare and climate protection.

To show the importance of anamnesis of nutrition and vitamin B12 status in treatment of varied mental and physical symptoms in an adolescent.

The poster shows the case study of an adolescent girl who sought psychological help for nightmares and symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as physical symptoms in the form of disturbed menstruation, fatigue and weakness, lethargy, dizziness, undifferentiated abdominal pain with nausea, and weight gain. All of which affected her academic success at university and daily functioning. An anamnesis showed that she has been following a vegetarian diet for 4 years and a vegan diet for two months.

Laboratory tests showed a deficiency of vitamin B12 (130 pmol/L) and 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D(D3+D2) (47 nmol/l) and slightly elevated TSH levels (4,2x10-3 IU/L). These tests can explain the patient’s symptoms. Other laboratory results were in the normal range. A treatment with psychological therapy and vitamin supplements was commenced. Discussion reviews, among else, recent literature findings on correlation of vitamin B12 deficiency and a vegan diet.

Nutrition and vitamin B12 status should be investigated during anamnesis of adolescent patients presenting with varied mental and physical symptoms.

No significant relationships.

The development of adolescent’s autonomy is influenced by both: family and culture. Cross-cultural studies show different autonomy development trajectories and culture-specific family organization tendencies. The comparison of autonomy development in different cultures can help in clarifying universal and culture-dependent aspects of autonomy development.

The present research studies adolescent’s autonomy in context of family functioning in Azerbaijani (Baku) and Russian (Moscow) adolescents.

Family Environmental Scale (FES), Method of unfinished sentences to study adolescent’s autonomy fields («I feel independent when…»), The Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA) were used in the study with 201 adolescents, aged from 13 to 18.

Family functioning of adolescents from Moscow is less achievement oriented (U-test, p=0,000), family life is less organized (p=0,000) and controlling (p=0,000). Adolescents in Baku consider the value of independence in families higher (p=0,01).

Context analysis of unfinished sentences shows universal categories of autonomy representation (autonomy in specific activities, autonomy as possibility to be alone) and culture specific representations: adolescents from Moscow describe autonomy more like «independence from others», whereas adolescents from Baku describe autonomy as «the presence of others nearby».

Engulfment Anxiety shows negative correlations (р<0,01) with family cohesion (r=0, -0,474), conflict (r=-0,466) and independence (r=-0,326) for all adolescents, with expressiveness (r=-0,490) and achievement orientation(r=-0,286) by Moscow adolescence and with intellectual-cultural (r=-0,249) and recreational family orientation (r=-0,278) by Baku adolescents.

Autonomy development in families has universal aspects (positive effects of cohesion, etc.), but Moscow adolescents are less focused on others and family in their autonomy development.

No significant relationships.

Externalising and internalising problems are common in school-aged children. Few studies have examined the association between comorbid externalising and internalising symptoms and adult-life economic participation.

To investigate associations of childhood externalising, internalising, and comorbid internalising-externalising symptoms with earnings and welfare receipt in adulthood.

We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify profiles of children with externalising, internalising, and comorbid symptoms from age 6-12 years. We estimated associations of the identified profiles with participants’ employment earnings at age 33-37 years and welfare receipt from age 18-35 years obtained from tax return records. The child’s IQ and family socioeconomic background were adjusted for.

Four profiles were identified: no symptoms (45%), externalizing (29%), internalizing (11%) and comorbid symptoms (13%). Relative to the no-symptom profile, participants in the comorbid profile earned US$-18,323 less annually (95%CI=-20,925 to -15700) at age 33-37 years and were significantly more likely to receive welfare across follow-up (RR=6.30, 95%CI=5.4 to 7.2). Similarly, compared to the no-symptom profile, participants in the externalising profile earned US$-7,256 less per year (95%CI=-9,205 to -5,307), while participants in the internalising profile earned US$-9,716 less (95%CI=-12,358 to -7,074). Significant interactions by sex were observed. For participants in the comorbid profile, males were more likely to have lower earnings while females were more likely to receive welfare, relative to the no-symptom profile.

Children exhibiting comorbid externalising and internalising symptoms are at high risk of poor economic outcomes in adulthood. Early detection, prevention and management is crucial to improve the life chances of this vulnerable population.

No significant relationships.

Electroconvulsive therapy is a proven treatment for mood and psychotic disorders in adult patients. It is estimated that in children and adolescents this type of therapy is underutilised despite the fact that the most recent studies have supported the success of ECT in these patients. A case is described of a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed with psychotic disorder who was previously treated with several antipsychotics, including clozapine, and finally treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Review of the clinical indications of electroconvulsive therapy in children and adolescents with psychotic or mood disorders through a clinical case of a patient admitted to a Psychiatric Short Stay Unit

Detailed psychopathological description of the case as well as the treatments used (psychotropic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy).

After the administration of electroconvulsive therapy, an improvement in both positive and negative psychotic symptomatology was observed, with a decrease in soliloquies and an improvement in affective flattening.

Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment in adolescent patients with psychotic and mood disorders, which should be considered as indicated as an effective treatment.

No significant relationships.

the problematic use of social media (PUSM) is considered nowadays as a behavioural addiction. Social media seem to provide an ephemeral escape especially for children suffering from dysfunctional families and abuse.

To study in a population of children and adolescents followed in outpatient child psychiatry unit, the prevalence, and family risk factors related to PUSM.

a descriptive study was conducted among child and adolescent psychiatry consultants. Parents were asked to provide answers for the BSMAS (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale). We used a self-administered questionnaire and the BSMAS to assess patients’ social media’s use characteristics and the APGAR Family Test to assess their satisfaction with their family functioning.

The prevalence of PUSM was estimated at 9.2% in our population according to the conservative approach, rising to 48.7% according to the liberal approach. APGAR Family Test scores were negatively correlated with BSMAS scores (Pearson’s coefficient= -0.37; p=0.002). Significantly higher scores were found in cases of exposure to physical (p=0.001) or moral (p=0.037) abuse and among patients who witnessed spousal violence (p=0.041), and whose parents had a lower level of education. A positive and significant correlation was found between parents’ and adolescents’ BSMAS scores (p=0.04).

Psychopathological fragility triggered by poor family functioning expose to the risk of PUSM. The implementation of preventive strategies and a rigorous and global management of these adolescents are imperative to fight against this disorder.

No significant relationships.

Infectious diseases can disrupt the environment in which children live and have negative consequences for the well-being, development and mental health of this population.

Our aim is to compare the number and diagnoses of patients admitted during the first COVID-19 pandemic year to patients admitted during the same period in the previous year.

Retrospective observational study of patients admitted between March 1, 2020 and February 29, 2021 and the analogous period of 2019-2020 in a child psychiatry unit. Microsoft Excel was used for descriptive statistics.

In our first pandemic year, there were 47.9% less admissions to our inpatient unit (n=717), comparing to the previous year (n=1376). Regarding the outpatient-type evaluations, there were 37.7% more admissions than the previous year (n=1813). Considering the fact that the number of inpatiens was limited in 2020 due to the restrictive measures imposed, most of our patients were consulted on an outpatient basis. During the 5 weeks nationwide lockdown, 72 children were consulted, 42.8% representing psychiatry emergencies. Regarding the diagnoses made in the whole pandemic year, disorders of psychological development were the most common, with almost half of the total of admissions (44.4%). The number of autistic outpatients in the pandemic year (n=1004) was almost double than the one before (n=572).

Even though there was a reduction of admissions to the child psychiatry inpatient unit during the first pandemic year, we did not identify major differences regarding the discharge diagnoses comparing to the year before.

No significant relationships.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is increasing around the world, being the third chronic medical condition in childhood. It is characterized by pancreatic β-cell loss which leads to insulin deficiency. Treatment includes insulin medication and lifestyle changes. Youngsters with T1D are at a high risk of psychological comorbidity (depression, anxiety, eating disorders), and especially anxiety symptoms have been correlated with worse diabetes control.

Our purpose is to examine the impact of T1D in adolescence regarding a case report and literature review.

We present the case of a 14-year-old female with T1D onset and no psychiatric history. She is referred to our service three months after the T1D onset. Both her parents and the patient were anxious about the diagnostic implications and the treatment. The patient sometimes refused to follow insulin treatment and was angry and labile. Both family and individual assessment interviews were accomplished.

Regarding our assessment and after coordination with endocrine service (doctor and nurse) we diagnosed an [F43.23] Adjustment Disorder (acute, with mixed anxiety and depressed mood). Following recent evidence Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Family Therapy were the election treatment with good outcomes. The patient was released after 3 months of follow-up.

T1D treatment entails lifestyle changes and self-control, which may be stressful and challenging for adolescents and their families, causing mental health problems. Since learning self-care and emotional coping strategies can improve both psychological well-being and glucose management, an interdisciplinary approach including psychological care, especially on the onset, can be crucial.

No significant relationships.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents. Several descriptive studies and systematic reviews have shown an increase in suicide rates in this age group.

- To present a literary review on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and suicidal behavior of adolescents around the world. - To present data on admission rates due to suicidal behavior during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in a Spanish child-adolescent psychiatric hospitalization unit.

- We will present a literature review and a retrospective cross-sectional study on admission rates for suicidal behavior in a child-adolescent psychiatric hospitalization unit. - Admission rates for suicidal behavior during the year prior to the pandemic will be compared with rates relative to the first year of the pandemic.

- We have found a significant increase in admission rates for suicidal behavior during the year of the pandemic. Similar results have been found in different studies and meta-analyzes. - The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients are quite similar in the two periods of time analyzed, but the reference to intra-family problems has been more frequent in the year of the pandemic.

Our data is in line with other studies suggesting that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on teenage suicidal behavior.

No significant relationships.

Neurological diseases often lead to mental disorders in children. After the structure of disorder is identified, an important task is to examine the abilities to compensate developmental delay (Lev S. Vygotsky).

The goal of the study was to explore potential of children with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS), which is important for psychocorrection.

Case study of a boy with idiopathic OMS (aged 3 years 5 months) who was patient at the Psychoneurological Department no. 2 of the Russian Children Clinical Hospital. The following methods were used: analysis of anamnestic data, analysis of patient’s medical record, pathopsychological assessment.

Anamnestic data and medical records indicate the absence of pregnancy pathologies and normal early development. OMS was first detected when the child was aged 2 y. 7 m. Pathopsychological assessment gave the following results: 1) movement disorder (primary disorder) leads to secondary mental disorders; 2) locomotor activity disorders inhibit the child’s use of space and orientation of body in it; 3) secondary defects are detected in constructive activity, speech and drawing. Intact components of the mental processes: 1) the child demonstrates motivation for independent activity despite operational difficulties; 2) in certain activities, the general plan of actions remains intact, i.e., the goal set is actualized in movements and actions; 3) notions about objects, actions with them, planning and performance of movements are intact.

The research demonstrates disbalance between operational difficulties and integrity of semantic orientation, internal planning of actions. The data prove the importance of discussion on abilities of children with OMS to compensate mental disorders.

No significant relationships.

Menke-Hennekam syndrome (MHS) is a relatively new genetic condition characterized by intellectual disabilities, autistic behavior, auditory defects, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, microcephaly and short stature. Facial characteristics include short palpebral fissures, telecanthus, depressed nasal bridge, short nose, anteverted nares, short columella, and long philtrum. The genetic defect is represented by missense variants of CREBBP gene, located on exons 30 or 31. There are only around 30 cases reported by now.

The aim of the paper is to report a new case of MHS.

The case is a 3-year-old boy admitted in our department for developmental delay. The clinical examination revealed dysmorphic features; severe speech delay, mild intellectual disability, autistic behaviour.The patient had a personal history of recurrent respiratory infections, visual defect and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Other investigations included EEG, abdominal echography, and cerebral MRI all were normal. The genetic studies included array CGH and WES.

The array CGH was normal. WES identified a pathogenic heterozygote variant c.5600G>A in the exon 31 of CREBBP gene, confirming MHS.

Overall, the features of our patient are consistent with those reported in the previous reports, including developmental and speech delay, autistic behavior, dysmorphic features, recurrent upper way infections, sensorineural hearing loss, and visual defects. Other common features, such as growth delay and microcephaly were not present in our patient. Our case contributes to the clinical characterisation of the new syndrome. Funding: The research leading to these results has received funding from the EEA Grant 2014-2021, under the project contract No 6/2019.

No significant relationships.

Since Kraepelin and Bleuler, schizotypy was understood as a mild expression of psychosis, a latent form with the same trajectory but different severity. They pointed characteristics such as being eccentric, unreasonable, supersticious or hipersensitive, interpersonal aversiveness (often related to suspiciousness and expectation of rejection), ambivalence, anhedonia,… and psychosis-like features that don’t usually lead to help-seeking.

To do a case review

We report a case of a 17 years old boy with a childhood trauma history who started psychiatric consultations a year and a half ago because his “usual” (as his mother referred) strange behaviour got worse, which was perceived by his

ENT specialist. During the appointments, the patient showed suspiciousness, odd speech, inappropriate affect, tendency to social withdrawal, obsessive ruminations with sexual content and occasional perceptual experiences (such as depersonalization, derealization and auditory hallucinations).

Psychosis and schizotypy are linked historically and phenomenologically, which is evidenced by their placement in non-affective psychosis in the ICD-10 and DSM-5, and it is known that the direct observation (by clinicians or family members) during the childhood and adolescence are key for a correct diagnosis. In fact, this construct reflects a phenotypic expression of vulnerability to schizophrenia, and during childhood or adolescence it may be understood as an early mental risk state.

In contrast to models of psychosis that mainly rely on positive features and assume a progression of them, the positive traits of schizotypy seem to be beneficial and related to a “benign or happy schizotypy” according to the articles we reviewed.

No significant relationships.

Although autism is only twice more common in men than women in general population, in clinical samples women are underrepresented. This difference may be due to a poor sensitivity of current diagnostic criteria of autism related to females. We present a 13-year-old woman referred to the adolescent psychiatric unit for anxiety, self injuries and suicidal ideation. After careful assessment of current symptoms and neurodevelopmental milestones, deficits in emotional-comunicational reciprocity, nonverbal comunication and relationships emerged, as well as inflexible adherence to routines and restricted interests. The diagnose of autism spectrum disorder was made and the patient started a specific treatment.

To review the clinical features of autism spectrum disorders in adolescent females and its differential diagnosis.

Review of the literature on autism spectrum disorders in female and its specific features.

The “Female Autism Phenotype” is a group features that are more common in autistic women, as opposed to the classic symptoms of autism in men. Some of these differential characteristics are: fewer social impairments and higher levels of social motivation; more age and gender appropriate restricted and repetitive interests; more internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms; and a tendency towards camouflaging

- Autism in women is frequently underdiagnosed. - Females express autism in ways that not allways meet the current diagnostic criteria. - The “Female Autism Phenotype” has been proposed as an specific way of expression of autism in females.

No significant relationships.

We present a 9-year-old girl with celiac disease who attends a Health Center referred by her pediatrician for rituals. Her mother describes rituals from early childhood that have been intensified by the death of her grandmother from pancreatic cancer. Since then, thoughts of gluten contamination and behaviors aimed at avoiding such contamination have increased. For example, not using the common household towel and not eating until all the guests have washed their hands. If the patient does not carry out these actions, she presents significant discomfort, crying and screaming until it is done. In addition, such behaviors take up a significant amount of time.

To review the literature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in children.

Literature review of scientific articles searching in Pubmed. We considered articles in English and Spanish.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Sertraline up to 50mg were started. After several weeks the frequency of behaviors aimed at avoiding gluten contamination begins to decrease; as well as the anguish if these are not carried out.

OCD in childhood can present characteristics that differentiate it from OCD in adulthood, such as difficulty detecting obsessions and that children do not usually consider thoughts as unreal or excessive. Therefore, it is a real challenge, having to carry out an adequate differential diagnosis with other entities such as specific phobias, for adequate subsequent management.

No significant relationships.

A psychotic episode might stem from various psychiatric disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Mania, Autism Spectrum Disorder, it might lead to Schizophrenia, or it might be a single event.

The study aimed to assess the main comorbidities encountered in the onset of psychotic episodes in children and adolescents, who were hospitalized in a pediatric psychiatry department for at least one night. Furthermore, another objective was to establish whether a family history of mental illness or a poor socio-economic status have bigger impact on the evolution of these patients.

To analyze the objectives, it was used an observational study, based on patients with the onset of a psychotic episode and associated diagnosis according to ICD-10, evaluated in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Department of “Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia” Hospital, between 2015-2019. Patients with psychotic episodes with onset related to Major Depressive Disorder and Mania or a personal history of Schizophrenia were excluded.

The most frequent associated comorbidity was Autism Spectrum Disorder. In terms of long-term evolution, patients with comorbidities have poorer outcomes, more relapses and hospitalizations. Family history of mental illness, low socio-economic status, the age of onset were found to be prognostic factors and have an important impact on the outcome.

This study compared patients with psychotic episodes with and without comorbid conditions associated, considering the length of hospitalization period, the evolution and the number of relapses. The presence and the type of comorbidities are important factors of evolution and prognostic for these patients.

No significant relationships.

Loneliness is a critical issue of adolescents that has grown severe during the last decade. Social media use is often regarded as negative factor of loneliness experience in connection with escapism. At the same time social media is an important part of adolescents’ communication sphere. The present study aims to explore positive functions of social media which can help adolescents cope with loneliness.

The present research studies features of loneliness representation in adolescents with different behavior in social media.

Multidimensional Inventory of Loneliness Experience; Cognitive Processing of Social Information in Internet Questionnaire; Method of unfinished sentences about loneliness and social media; Questionnaire about social media were used in the study with 44 adolescents, aged from 13 to 18.

Adolescents have a higher level of loneliness (M = 29.6) than the results in 2013 (M = 17.7) show. Context analysis of unfinished sentences shows that 21% of adolescents have a various representation of loneliness, 71% perceive loneliness as negative. General feel of loneliness tends to show negative correlations with adequate perception of information in social media (k = - 0.317; p = 0.038). Negative attitude to loneliness is negatively correlated with interpretation adequacy of social media content (k=-0.568, p<0,001). Adolescents with low levels of holistic social media perceptions have higher levels of loneliness. Use of social media can reduce feelings of loneliness (p = 0.002).

Social media expand adolescents’ representation of loneliness. Productive use of social media can help adolescent cope with loneliness.

No significant relationships.