The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increases in child mental health problems, but the persistence of these changes in the post-pandemic era remains uncertain. Additionally, it is unclear whether changes in mental health problems during the pandemic exceed the anticipated increases as children age. This study controls for the linear effect of age in 1399 children, investigating the course of child-reported anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and inattention symptoms during and after the pandemic, and identifies risk and protective factors that predict these mental health trajectories.

Children (51% male; ages 9–11 at the first timepoint) provided mental health ratings at three pandemic timepoints (July–August 2020; March–April 2021; November 2021–January 2022) and one post-pandemic timepoint (January–July 2023). Mothers reported pre-pandemic mental health (2017–2019) and socio-demographic factors. Children reported socio-demographic factors, risk (e.g. screen time, sleep), and resilience (e.g. optimism) factors during the first timepoint.

Average mental health symptoms increased over time, with more children exceeding clinical cut-offs for poor mental health at each subsequent pandemic timepoint. Growth curve modeling, adjusting for age-related effects, revealed a curvilinear course of mental health symptoms across all domains. Examination of risk and protective factors revealed that pre-existing mental health symptoms and optimism were associated with the course of symptoms.

After considering age effects, children's mental health follows a curvilinear pattern over time, suggesting an initial decline followed by a rising trend in symptoms post-COVID. These findings underscore the continued need for additional resources and timely, evidence-based mental health prevention and intervention for children.

One in 57 children are diagnosed with autism in the UK, and the estimated cost for supporting these children in education is substantial. Social Stories™ is a promising and widely used intervention for supporting children with autism in schools and families. It is believed that Social Stories™ can provide meaningful social information to children that can improve social understanding and may reduce anxiety. However, no economic evaluation of Social Stories has been conducted.

To assess the cost-effectiveness of Social Stories through Autism Spectrum Social Stories in Schools Trial 2, a multi-site, pragmatic, cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Children with autism who were aged 4–11 years were recruited and randomised (N = 249). Costs measured from the societal perspective and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) measured by the EQ-5D-Y-3L proxy were collected at baseline and at 6-month follow-up for primary analysis. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated, and the uncertainty around incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was captured by non-parametric bootstrapping. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the primary findings.

Social Stories is likely to result in a small cost savings (–£191 per child, 95% CI −767.7 to 337.7) and maintain similar QALY improvements compared with usual care. The probability of Social Stories being a preferred option is 75% if society is willing to pay £20 000 per QALY gained. The sensitivity analysis results aligned with the main study outcomes.

Compared with usual care, Social Stories did not lead to an increase in costs and maintained similar QALY improvements for primary-aged children with autism.

Hypnotic drug use in children and adolescents is widely debated.

To describe use of hypnotic drugs (melatonin, z-drugs and sedating antihistamines) among 5-24-year-old Scandinavians during 2012 to 2018.

Aggregate-level data from public data sources in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. We calculated annual prevalence (users/1000 inhabitants) stratified by sex, age group and country. Quantity of use (Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/user/day) was estimated for Norway and Denmark.

Melatonin was most frequently used, with an increase from 2012 to 2018 in all countries. Sweden presented the highest rise (7 to 25/1,000) compared to Denmark (6 to 12/1,000) and Norway (10 to 20/1,000). The increase was strongest for females and 15-24-year-olds. Melatonin use was twice as common for males under age 15 years, and slightly more common for females thereafter. The annual prevalence of sedating antihistamine use doubled from 7 to 13/1,000 in Sweden, whereas it was more stable in Norway and Denmark, reaching 8/1,000 and 3/1,000, respectively. Z-drug use decreased in all countries, lowering to 4/1,000 in Sweden and Norway in 2018 and 2/1,000 in Denmark. The quantity of hypnotic use in Norway and Denmark was 1 DDD/user/day for melatonin, as compared to 0.1-0.3 for z-drugs and antihistamines.

There is an increasing use of melatonin and sedating antihistamines among Scandinavian children, adolescents and young adults. The increase is more pronounced in Sweden compared to Norway and Denmark. This Scandinavian discrepancy could reflect variation in frequency of sleep problems or national variation in clinical practice or health care access.

No significant relationships.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of severe heatwaves, storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires. These events cause widespread economic and social disruption and are undermining population health worldwide. Despite a growing literature on how climate change threatens mental health, its influence on harmful substance use has not been systematically addressed.

We propose an explanatory framework explicating the plausible links between climate change-related stressors and an increase in harmful substance use.

We critically review and synthesise literature documenting the pathways, processes and mechanisms linking climate change to increased substance use vulnerability.

Several plausible pathways link climate change to increased risk of harmful substance use worldwide. These include: (1) anxiety about the impacts of unchecked climate change, (2) destabilisation of psychosocial and economic support systems, (3) increasing rates of mental disorders, and (4) increased physical health burden. Children may face disproportionate risk due to their vulnerability to both mental disorders and substance use, particularly during adolescence. We argue that a developmental life-course perspective situated within a broader ‘systems thinking’ approach provides a coherent framework for understanding how climate change is aggravating the multiple, persistent, interacting risks that influence harmful substance use pathways.

Climate change is already undermining health and wellbeing of global populations. By inference, it is also aggravating pathway to harmful substance use. This is a critical psychosocial problem for individuals and communities alike. Conceptual and methodological work is urgently needed so that effective adaptive and preventive action can be taken.

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.

A 15-year-old man who comes to the consultation referred from neurology for a poorly progressive tic disorder that is resistant to treatment. This is a patient with no relevant medical history. He has good academic performance, without symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. He does not present buccophonatory tics

To Show guanfacine as a efficient treatment fot tics disorder

Case report

He has presented complex motor tics as cervical contractions that have had to receive physiotherapeutic treatment. He also presents simple ocular tics. The patient at our evaluation is on a 4 mg dose of pimozide without response. He was previously on risperidone. It was decided to start treatment with guanfacine up to 5 mg with reduction of pimozide, to 1 mg. The patient with this dose adjustment shows a notable improvement in the frequency and intensity of the tics, both cervical and ocular. The patient also refers to a feeling of being calmer and being able to face stressful situations such as being exposed to social relationships, intervening more in class without increasing their anxiety levels.

Guanfacine is a selective alpha-2a adrenergic receptor agonist that has an indication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Like its precursor, clonidine, there is more and more literature that proposes this medication and others for ADHD as useful drugs in pathologies such as tic disorder. It has a safe use profile, which with progressive adjustment and hardly any side effects is placed as a treatment to take into account in this pathology.

No significant relationships.

Access to timely care is a quality standard underpinning many international healthcare models, and long waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services are often reported as a barrier to help-seeking.

The aim of this study was to examine whether young people with more severe problems have shorter waiting times for mental health services.

Multilevel multinomial regression analysis controlling for service-area deprivation, age, gender, ethnicity, referral source and contextual factors was conducted on N = 21 419 episodes of care (mean age 12.37 years (s.d. = 3.71), 11 712 (55%) female) using data from child and adolescent mental health services.

There was high variation in waiting times, which ranged from 0 days to 1629 days (mean 50.65 days (s.d. = 78.03), median 32 days). Compared with young people with less severe problems young people with severe problems, self-harm, psychosis or eating disorders were less likely to experience longer waiting times. Moreover, referrals from sources other than primary care were generally less likely to have longer waiting times than referrals from primary care sources, especially referral from accident and emergency services.

The findings suggest that young people with more severe problems had shorter waiting times. Intermediary information and resources for support before access to services is needed to prevent escalation of problems and to support individuals and families while waiting for care. Interventions to reduce waiting times should be considered without compromising on the quality and experience of care that young people and families deserve when seeking help.

Somatization is a common phenomenon that can severely complicate youths’ functioning and health. The burden of somatization on pediatric acute care settings is currently unclear; better understanding it may address challenges clinicians experience in effectively caring for somatizing patients. In this study, we estimate the prevalence of somatization in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of visits for non-critical, non-mental health-related concerns (n = 150) to a quaternary-level pediatric ED between July 2016 and August 2017. Demographic and clinical visit details were collected through chart review and used by two reviewing clinicians to classify whether each visit had a “probable,” “unclear” (possible), or “unlikely” somatizing component.

Approximately 3.33% (n = 5) of youth displayed probable somatization, and an additional 13.33% (n = 20) possibly experienced a somatizing component but require additional psychosocial and visit documentation to be certain. Longer symptom duration and multiple negative diagnostic tests were associated with a higher likelihood of either probable or possible somatization.

A considerable proportion of non-mental health-related visits may involve a somatizing component, indicating the burden of mental health concerns on the ED may be underestimated. A higher index of suspicion for the possibility of somatization may support clinicians in managing somatizing patients.

Evaluate the feasibility, fidelity and preliminary efficacy of Camp NERF to prevent unhealthy weight gain and promote healthy behaviours in children during the summer.

Camp NERF was an 8-week, multicomponent, theory-based programme coupled with the US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Twelve eligible elementary-school sites were randomized to one of three treatment groups: (i) Active Control (non-nutrition, -physical activity (PA), -mental health); (ii) Standard Care (nutrition and PA); or (iii) Enhanced Care (nutrition and PA, plus cognitive behavioural techniques) programming. Efficacy was determined by assessing mean change by group in child outcomes using hierarchical linear regression models.

Low-income, urban neighbourhoods in Columbus, OH, USA.

Economically disadvantaged, racial minority children of elementary school age (kindergarten–5th grade).

Eighty-seven child–caregiver dyads consented; eighty-one completed pre- and post-intervention assessments resulting in a 93·10 % retention rate. Delivery of the intended lesson occurred 79–90 % of the time. Of the children, 56·98 % (n 49) were female; 89·53 % (n 77) were Black. Overall mean change in BMI Z-score from baseline to post-intervention was −0·03 (se 0·05); change in BMI Z-score did not differ significantly between treatment group. Change in nutrition, PA, mental health or psychosocial outcomes did not differ between groups.

Results from the current study demonstrate feasibility and fidelity, yet no intervention effect of Camp NERF. Instead, findings suggest that participation in structured programming of any type (health behaviour-related or not) may prevent unhealthy summer weight gain. Additional studies are needed to confirm findings. Results have implications for child nutrition policy addressing the issue of summer health.

Nutritional status during childhood plays an important role in the human life cycle. The present study examined the prevalence trends in different grades of nutritional status (thinness, normal weight, overweight and obesity) among children and adolescents in Shandong, China.

Data for the study were obtained from six cross-sectional surveys of schoolchildren carried out in 1985, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014. Height and weight of all children were measured; BMI was calculated from their height and weight. International BMI cut-offs were used to define thinness, overweight and obesity.

Shandong Province, China.

A total of 56 045 students aged 7–18 years were included in the current analysis.

In the past 29 years, the prevalence of thinness decreased from 18·22 % and 23·45 % in 1985 to 7·18 % and 9·49 % in 2014 for boys and girls, respectively. Conversely, the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity increased from 1·79 % and 1·66 % in 1985 to 31·12 % and 20·11 % in 2014 for boys and girls, respectively.

The nutritional profile of Shandong children and adolescents had an obvious change over the past 29 years. Special attention should be paid to controlling the rapid rise of childhood overweight and obesity.