Mental Health

Children born to older parents are less likely to have externalizing behavior problems, according to a population-based cohort study that included more than 32,000 Dutch children. Researchers also found that parental age may have no effect on a child’s internalizing problems.

Diagnosing young children soon after symptom emergence expedites the start of interventions for autism spectrum disorder, and can help prepare children and their parents, according to a JAMA Network Insight published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Findings of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggested that approximately 6% of children — or one in 17 — are given melatonin for sleep problems.

Involvement in sports was associated with less depression in boys and higher hippocampal volume in both boys and girls aged 9 to 11 years, according to study findings presented in a NIMH webinar.

Approximately half of youth who received antipsychotics during the year after an ADHD diagnosis had a diagnosis for which antipsychotics are indicated, and less than half of these youth received a stimulant — the evidence-supported first-line ADHD treatment, study data revealed.

Questions that assessed frequency of use of alcohol, cannabis and other illicit drugs correctly determined which adolescents had substance use disorders, according to findings recently published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

Treatment with stimulant medications in children with ADHD was linked to a lower risk for functional complications mood, conduct and substance use disorders, and school problems, study findings published in Journal of Adolescent Health revealed.

Prenatal opioid exposure may negatively impact neurocognitive and physical development, and those effects can last until adolescence, according to findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open.

Although subspecialization training encompassing two fellowships is almost unheard of, this experience is where I began my journey in infectious disease clinical practice. As a fourth-year medical student rotating on the pediatric infectious disease service, getting the opportunity to observe the breadth of disease in the category, gain a deeper understanding of “bugs and drugs” and hone my diagnostic skills from truly gifted physicians was awe-inspiring. What impressed me most was that all of the attendings I met were both excellent diagnosticians and had excellent general practitioner skills.

Study findings published in JAMA Pediatrics indicated an association between computer, social media and television use and increases in depressive symptoms among adolescents. Video gaming had no effect, researchers said.