Psychosis represents a profound disorder in personality development and organization which results in changing or losing contact with reality, emotional and cognitive deprivation, changing or losing contact with objects (people or things), insufficient or biased investment in objects and activities, as well as perception, thought, attention, will, mobility and speech impediment.

Genetics’ part in the onset of a psychosis, since the grandmother of twins ill with psychosis also had Schizophrenia.

A display of 15 year old, male twins, who showed psychotic symptoms, one after the other.

Presence of a psychotic disease in the family gave a biological possibility of its further occurrence, which indeed manifested in an early onset of psychosis in both twin grandsons of the ill subject. Patients were bizygotic twins, with lower intellectual capacities, lower Ego-potentials, and low levels of psycho-social maturity. Symptoms of depersonalization, cognitive and perceptive alterations, as well as intense fear, social withdrawal, loss of interest, and alienation from the outside world were observed.

Monitoring of body weight, psychiatric state, hormonal status, brain NMR after admission and six month after weight regaining is showing recovery of physical and psychical state of patient, which didn't mean total recovery.

The Adolescent Day Treatment Program (ADTP) established in Summer 2000 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada provides multi-disciplinary non-residential day treatment for mentally disturbed youth aged 13 to 18 years who suffer from moderate to severe forms of mental health disorders that do not to require hospitalization or as a step-down from hospitalization. the treatment approach includes pharmaco-therapy, psychiatric consultation, psycho-educational groups, individual, group and family therapy, occupational and recreational therapy and school board-operated educational programming.

Data descriptions and repeated measure analyses included variables representing demographics, length of stay, diagnoses, admission and discharge problem severity, goal achievement ratings, and Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS).

Significant improvement was observed over the course of treatment in the majority of patients in outcome measures (problem severity and goal achievement) and CGAS. Follow-up of a sub-sample of those served indicates that function at the time of discharge best predicts adaptation at the time of follow-up.

Day treatment appears to be effective and clinical effects persists at the time of follow-up and are predicted primarily by discharge function.

Emotional Dysregulation (ED) is the decreased capacity to experiment and differentiate an ample range of emotions, as well as to monitor, evaluate and modify intense emotional states. the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) was developed for adults, has good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.93), and test-retest reliability.

To translate and determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the DERS (DERS-E) in a non clinical Mexican adolescent's sample.

455 students of a public high school in the Mexico City participated; the mean age was 13.1 + .95 years old. the scale was administrated in groups of 40 students, who concurrently answered the Spanish version of the following measures:

1. i) Self-injury schedule;

2. ii) Beck depression inventory;

3. iii) Beck anxiety inventory; and

4. iv) Plutchik's Impulsivity scale.

The first confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) showed that the data didn’t replicate the original 6 factor structure (Chi2 = 22339.4, fd = 6, p < 0.05). An exploratory factorial analysis showed that the data adjusted with a 24 items and 4 factors model (corroborated with a second CFA: Chi2 = 259.729, fd = 230, p > 0.05); the subscales Cronbach’ α were from .85 to .68. the validity through contrasted groups and the correlation with concurrent scales showed significant results (Pearson's r of .51. to .76, p < 0.05).

The DERS-E didn’t replicate the factorial structure of the original scale, but showed a similar and multidimensional structure of 4 factors and showed good psychometric properties, with respect to internal consistency and concurrent validity.

According to WHO, 2 million young people in Europe suffer from mental disorders, sometimes receiving no care. in 2007, the Portuguese Government set a new Mental Health Plan (MHP), which included guidelines for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) development. Although positive aspects have been achieved, CAMHS evaluation identified significant deficiencies (accessibility, equity and quality of care).

In what concerns children and adolescents, the MHP aims:

• To program new CAMHS in every central and district hospital, in order to cover the entire country.

• To ensure equity and promote human rights.

• To decentralise and integrate mental health in the general health system (including primary care) in order to increase access and reduce stigma;

A National Coordination Body for Mental Health has been empowered to assure the implementation of the MHP, with external monitoring from WHO. This Coordinating Body includes a team of child and adolescent mental health experts.

There have been significant improvements in several key areas: diagnosis of current situation (structures, human resources), creation of new CAMHS, reshaping financing model proposals, planning of residential and day unit facilities for adolescents with double diagnosis, mental health promotion and domestic violence prevention programmes, advocacy and stigma.

The MHP can help to overcome some of the problems present in MHS in Portugal. Special attention should be given to CAMHS, namely through the increase of new services and new teams. Nevertheless, given the present crisis context, broad policies can negatively influence and restraint the mental health plan implementation.

To analysis the influences of family environment on only-children personality.

Using cross-sectional design only-children aged 6–16years were recruited. using EPQ applying on children to evaluate the children personality. the general questionnaire▮ PSDQ▮FAD-GFS▮SLE▮FSQ▮FLQ▮EFQ were used to collect information about family environment from parents.

In only-child family, standardized regression equation of family environment influence on children personality and mental health:

EPQ-p = 0.087*sle+0.207*father autocratic parenting+0.131*educational of father + 0.110 *family type -0.110*role of discipline-0.080*parental attitude+0.087* family adaptability; EPQ-e=0.105*EFQ -0.088* SLE- 0.101 * family income; EPQ-n = 0.143*SLE-0.090*family cohesion+0.089* family income +0.117 *the attitude of the old-0.138*the role of child experiments of FLQ-0.101* parents shaping the behavior of children of FLQ▮EPQ - l = - 0.136* SLE - 0.093* relationship between parents -0.155*attitude of the old▮

Each aspect of family environment, influence children personality and mental differently.

Impairments of health related quality of life (HR-QoL), as well as effective treatment options, including atomoxetine, are well documented in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

To identify prognostic factors of improvement in HR-QoL in children and adolescents with ADHD, after atomoxetine treatment, as measured by the Child Health and Illness Profile- Child Edition Parent Report Form (CHIP-CE PRF) Achievement (A) and Risk Avoidance (RA) domains.

Pooled data from children and adolescents with ADHD treated with atomoxetine from 3 placebo controlled and separate data from 3 open-label trials were analyzed using logistic regression methodology. Only subjects impaired at baseline in the CHIP-CE PRF A and RA domains with < 40 points were included (n = 190 and 183 in the double-blind pooled sample; 422 and 355 from the open-label studies, respectively). Treatment outcome after 8–16 weeks was categorised as < 2.5 points change, between 2.5 and 10 points or more than 10 points change.

Based on data of the pooled sample of double-blind studies, baseline impairment in CHIP-CE sub-domains and study (overall study effect: p < 0.001) were associated with treatment outcome for both outcome domains, while having early Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (OR: 2.0) was associated with improved outcome on the RA domain. Additionally, across the 3 open-label studies, initial symptom response (OR: 3.2–15.6) was most robustly associated with treatment outcome.

Baseline impairment in HR-QoL as well as initial treatment response may be prognostic factors of atomoxetine treatment outcome in HR-QoL in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Audit of ADHD caseload identified an open case prevalence of ADHD as 0.2% and 0.6% in Specialist Tier 2 and 3 CAMHS across 2 metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester, as opposed to national prevalence of 1–3%.

We carried out a survey of CAMHS clinicians to identify and address any internal factors that could contribute towards such an under-representation.

A Survey questionnaire was designed to look at staff perceptions, knowledge and training needs in identification and management of ADHD.

Questionnaires were distributed to 50 CAMHS professionals working across these two Specialist CAMHS, which were completed anonymously and returned yielding a response rate of 84%.

1 in 10 CAMHS clinicians did not believe in giving children and young people diagnosis of ADHD and a third believed ADHD was medicalization of behavioural problems rather than neurobiological disorder. Only half of CAMHS clinicians were aware of co-morbidities such as conduct disorder and other developmental disorders.

Although ADHD is a professionally well established condition, scepticism amongst significant number of CAMHS clinicians about the validity of diagnosis, relative risks and benefits of diagnosis continues to exist. This may result in under diagnosis of children who are referred to CAMHS with behavioural difficulties. This has an impact on quality and appropriateness of service provided.

Specific training on ADHD is especially important among CAMHS teams, with clinicians from a multidisciplinary background and differing attitudes towards ADHD.

We anticipate this will help identify missed ADHD cases and improve the quality of care.

There was done a comparative analysis of social factors role in the pathogenesis of the classic autistic disorder (DSM-IV-TR 299.00) and functional atypical autism (DSM-IV-TR 299.80). It's known that nowadays the incidences of children's autism increased. and the reasons of autism growth in children population are not clarified.

2 groups of children aged from 3 to 7 years, 20 patients in the group with the autistic disorder and 20 patients with functional atypical autism without signs of organic lesions of the central nervous system.

The social, demographic, psychopathological, clinical, neuropsychological (Luria-90), nonparametric statistical methods, anamnesis.

A statistically significant difference of social and demographic indicators in studied groups. the children with functional autism are characterized by significant functional difference in the parents age (father older mother 16 ± 3,2 years) (p < 0.001), technical education of parents (p < 0.001), profession of father (computer technology, programming) (p < 0,05), a technological saturation of family environment (computers, telephones, television, etc.) (p < 0.05), emotional distancing of parents (p < 0.001), mediated relationship “parent-child” through a nanny (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences during neuropsychological testing. the children with functional autism opposed to children with early childhood autism had deviations of kinesthetic (p < 0.001), dynamic (p < 0.05), constructive praxis (p < 0.02), mechanical memory (p < 0.01), delayed speech development (communicative function of speech) (p < 0.05).

Revealed factors should be considered as additional differential diagnostic and prognostic criteria's in diagnostic and corrective therapeutic measures.

Spirituality and mental health have always been in a very dynamic relationship. One can wonder if spirituality should be taken out of psychiatry or if psychiatry lost its faith.

The goal of this research is to analyze how anxiety levels are influenced by religious beliefs and practices in children and adolescents.

72 respondents participated in our study. They were pupils in the eighth grade at Scoala Generala Horea, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. the exclusion criteria was any psychiatric disorder diagnosed prior to the research.

We used the questionnaire for anxiety, S.T.A.I. - State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Charles D. Spielberger Ph.D., 1970). the questionnaires about religious beliefs, behaviors and personal motivation: SAI -Spiritual Assessment Inventory (Todd W. Hall, Ph.D&Keith J. Edwards, Ph.D, 1996) and two questions from DUREL - Duke University Religion Index (Koenig HG, Meador K, Parkerson G., 1997). These questionnaires are adapted for a monotheist religion.

To analyze the results, we used SPSS, a Business Intelligence software which includes statistical analysis modules, version 17.

The results identified a valid statistical correlation between anxiety levels and the degree of awareness of God in religious practices and beliefs. (Pearson correlation −0.227, p = 0.05). Depending on the results from SAI questionnaire concerning the level of awareness, we formed 2 groups and we studied the anxiety levels. the analysis of these 2 groups sustained the prior association.

The anxiety levels are lower in children with high degree of spiritual awareness and religious practices and beliefs.

In Italy, the only prevalence study carried out with rigorous methodology in a sample of children and adolescents found that about 8% met criteria for any mental disorders. However, there is no systematic information available about the sociodemographic, clinical and treatment-related characteristics of young patients in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

To assess the characteristics of children and adolescents in contact with CAMHS and to analyse the pathways through which they referred to services.

All public outpatient CAMHS operating in a Region of 633,725 inhabitants aged 6–17 years participated to the study. A total of 710 consecutive patients were enrolled and were evaluated with a detailed Sociodemografic Form, and standardized assessment instruments, including the CBCL, the HoNOSCA, the C-GAS, the CGI.

The mean age of the users was 10(± 3) years, about 60% was male, and they were comparable to general population in terms of nationality, living situation and socioeconomic status. A large proportion (76%) of patients were diagnosed within the broad groups of emotional and specific developmental disorders. Most parents had been referred by general practitioners (48,2%), and/or by school teacher (31,9%); About 60% had never received any treatment before the first contact with CAMHS.

Overall, patients do not come from families with disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds; adolescent with behavioural disorders seems to require more intensive levels of care. the recognition of the patient's problems by parents and general practitioners play a central role in the referral pathway to CAMHS.

Although service data are crucial for estimating the resources required by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and to improve their quality, no studies have yet been conducted in Italy to this aim, and even in other countries health services research in this area has been extremely limited in scope and magnitude.

To collect data on the physical characteristics, staffing arrangements, and activities of CAMHS in Emilia-Romagna, a densely populated Italian region with 633,725 inhabitants aged 0–17 years.

Unit Chiefs of all the CAMHS filled in a structured ‘Facility Form’, with activity data referring to 2008 (for inpatient facilities we referred to 2009).

Eleven CAMHS were operative, including 110 outpatient units, with a ratio of approximately 20 child psychiatrists and 23 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants aged 0–17 years. All outpatient units were well equipped and all granted free service access. in 2008, approximately 6% of the target population was in contact with CAMHS; first-ever contacts accounted for 30% of annual visits. Hospital bed availability was 5 per 100,000 inhabitants aged 0–17 years.

The overall number of child psychiatrists per 100,000 inhabitants is one of the highest in Europe and is comparable with the most well equipped areas in the US. This comparison should be interpreted with caution, however, because in Italy, child psychiatrists also treat neurological disorders. Critical areas requiring improvement are: the uneven utilisation of standardised assessment procedures and the limited availability of dedicated emergency services during non-office hours.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of agreement among parents and teachers with respect to the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher's Report Form (TRF).

A total of 800 randomly selected children (400 boys, 400 girls) aged 7–11 years (mean age 9.28, SD 1.42) were assessed using CBCL and TRF parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and teachers completed the Teacher's Report Form (TRF). Approximately 98% of the respondents were listed as the mothers and 2% as the fathers. for the TRF, 100% of the respondents were child's teacher. Analyses was included degree of concordance of ratings as a function of informant and child gender. the collected data were analyzed using pearson Coefficient of Correlation.

Coefficient of correlation showed low to moderate agreement among informants (parent-teacher) (r = 0/39). Furthermore the correlation of scores on the externalizing scale were generally significantly higher (p < 0/01) than the scores on the internalizing scale for parent-teacher correlation. There were no significant effects of gender on concordance among Ratings.

The results indicated that correspondences between parent and teacher ratings of behavioral and emotional problems across home and school settings differ. This difference is at least partly due to the situation specific behavior of children. Externalizing behaviors, in general, are more easily noticeable than internalizing behaviors, which partially explains why there tends to be greater correlation between raters on externalizing behavior. This Results help to gain a greater understanding of how the perception of child behavior varies between raters.

Currently there are no developed theories supported by evidence on the emotion role in development and psychopathology. By elucidating the psychological and biological mechanisms involved in the occurrence of anxiety disorders in children, effective programs for prevention and early intervention can be developed.

To investigate the emotion regulation strategies in children diagnosed with anxiety disorders and their parents compared with healthy ones.

To examine the relationship between the emotion regulation mechanisms and the presence of psychopathology.

Data were obtained from 45 children aged 10–18 years diagnosed with anxiety disorders according to DSM IV-TR and healthy subjects, comparable in age and sex. for diagnostic procedures, assessment of internalizing/externalizing symptoms and anxiety disorders we used specific standardized psychometric instruments.

The group of children diagnosed with anxiety disorder showed an increased frequency and intensity of emotional reactivity with intense negative emotions, reassessment use deficits in negative emotional situations and self efficiency, frequent use of avoidance strategy, the use of cognitive coping strategies significantly less adaptive as response to adverse events (e.g. high scores on catastrophe and rumination strategies and low scores on positive reassessment).

The description of the mechanisms by which external or internal variables influence the appearance of the anxiety disorders can contribute to the identification of the anxiety etiological models. Changing the regulation and emotional reactivity pattern can have important clinical implications, particularly therapeutic. Preliminary results of the studies on the therapy that includes the emotional component effectiveness are positive for both children and adults.

Mental development but also growth and somatic development of children is closely related with psychical and social status. Children suffering from severe social and emotional deprivation show substantial deficits not only in mental but also growth and somatic development. It is supposed that children in foster care or institutional care may be exposed to show long-time changes in development and can show significant growth and developmental delays.

We have conducted an extensive study (n = 360) monitoring mental and somatic development in children in foster care - P (n = 120), in institutional care - D (n = 120) and in functional biological families -B (n = 120). We have evaluated the stage of cognitive and emotional development and also somatic development.

The results of the presented study showed that children in institutional and foster care show significant delays in somatic development - i.e. substantially lower values of body height and weight, comparing to children from biological families (p < 0.01). Somatic development is delayed in institutional care and also in children in foster care. Children in institutional and foster care have documented also higher percentage of low birth weight in comparison to children in biological families. Children in institutional care are most delayed in growth and have lowest body weight from the examined groups.

The results of study propose that foster and institutional care may have substantial influence on somatic development of children.

ADHD is a common diagnosis characterized by inadequate level of attention, excessive activity and impulsivity, accompanied by biochemical and neuroendocrinological changes. in connection with these changes ADHD children can show differences in growth and in development general. Our study compares anthropometric characteristics in boys with ADHD (according to DSM IV) and non-clinical population (n = 250; age: avg = 10,5, 19; SD = 4,8). in contrast to the most of the studies which were done on this topic and work mostly only with BMI, the presented study operates with complex anthropometrical measurements. Differences between medicated (methylphenidate) and non medicated groups were also evaluated. Possible relation between growth and results of psychological tests (WISC-III, attention tests) and questionnaires (CPQ, CTQ) were considered as well. the results show significant difference in anthropometric parameters between children with ADHD and children without the diagnosis. the differences are especially significant in signs of nutrition. It was also found that boys with ADHD have higher percentage of fat, higher value of abdominal circumference and some other differences in physipue from the norm. Children taking medication show lower percentage of body fat and lower BMI. Differences in height were not statistically significant. Relation of anthropometric and psychological parameters was not found.

The results are in correspondence with previous studies and point not only to significant influence of medication on growth of ADHD children but as well as on other developmental changes connected with this disorder.