Şeyma Gürbüz

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency, distribution, and reasons for consultations during inpatient treatment in child and adolescent psychiatry, and to evaluate diagnostic changes between admission and discharge. This retrospective, single-center study included 252 children and adolescents hospitalized in the child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit of Ankara Etlik City Hospital between November 1, 2024 and November 1, 2025. Demographic characteristics, admission and discharge DSM-5-TR diagnoses, consulted departments, reasons for consultation, and number of consultations were extracted from the hospital electronic record system. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and McNemar's test. The mean age was 15.54 ± 1.82 years. Three-quarters of patients (75.0%) required at least one consultation during hospitalization, and 41.7% required three or more. Social services was the most frequently consulted department (44.8%), and legal or protective concerns were the most common reason for consultation (34.5%). Clinically meaningful diagnostic changes were observed between admission and discharge: neurodevelopmental disorders and anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders more than doubled, while psychotic spectrum diagnoses showed a marked decline. Within-patient analysis revealed that 58 patients (24.3%) showed a change in diagnostic category between admission and discharge. In the child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit, multidisciplinary involvement appears to be a common feature, the service interfaces closely with protective welfare systems, and the inpatient stay provides a meaningful opportunity for diagnostic clarification. These findings suggest that capacity planning should jointly address the treatment, diagnostic clarification, and medical-social coordination functions of the inpatient unit.

Duyusal Yetersizlikleri Olan Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Konsültasyon Liyezon Psikiyatrisi İşitme ve görme engeli olan çocuk ve ergenlerde duyusal yetersizliklerin psikiyatrik ve gelişimsel etkileri bu bölümde ele alınmaktadır. İşitme kaybı, dil gelişimi, bilişsel işlevler, sosyal-duygusal gelişim üzerinde belirgin etkiler yaratırken; görme engeli, mekânsal algı, sosyal iletişim, duygusal düzenleme ve akademik performans gibi alanlarda zorluklara yol açabilmektedir. Bölümde, duyusal yetersizliklerin psikiyatrik sonuçları, gelişimsel değerlendirme yöntemleri ve klinik yaklaşımlar detaylandırılmaktadır. Bu kapsamda, duyusal yetersizlikleri olan çocukların psikiyatrik değerlendirmesi ve tedavisinde multidisipliner bir yaklaşımın gerekliliği vurgulanmaktadır. This section discusses the psychiatric and developmental effects of sensory deficits in children and adolescents with hearing and visual impairments. Hearing loss significantly affects language development, cognitive functions, and social-emotional development. At the same time, visual impairment may lead to difficulties in areas such as spatial perception, social communication, emotional regulation, and academic performance. The chapter details the psychiatric consequences of sensory deficits, developmental assessment methods, and clinical approaches. In this context, the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in the psychiatric evaluation and treatment of children with sensory deficits is emphasized.

Aim: Our study aims to explore the relationship between anxiety, depressive symptoms, and family functioning about quality of life in children diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1. Methods: A total of 51 participants, including 24 children in the neurofibromatosis type 1 group and 27 age- and gender-matched controls, aged between 8 and 18 years, were included. A pediatric neurologist confirmed each neurofibromatosis type 1 diagnosis. A semi-structured clinical interview (KSADS-PL) and psychometric evaluation were performed by a unique child psychiatrist. A sociodemographic form and psychometric scales assessing family functioning, quality of life, and children's anxiety and depressive symptoms were administered. Results: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or specific learning disorder were identified in 12 cases (50.0%). Parent-reported psychosocial subscores and total quality of life scores were significantly lower in the neurofibromatosis type 1 group compared with controls. Affective involvement subscores in family functioning were significantly higher in the neurofibromatosis type 1 group than in controls. The total quality of life scores reported by both children and parents, along with parent-reported psychosocial quality of life subscores, showed a moderate positive correlation with age at neurofibromatosis type 1 diagnosis. In contrast to the control group, problem-solving subscores in family functioning in the neurofibromatosis type 1 group showed a moderate positive correlation with depression scores and a moderate negative correlation with child-reported psychosocial quality of life subscores. Additionally, in the neurofibromatosis type 1 group, general family functioning exhibited a moderate positive correlation with total anxiety scores and a moderate negative correlation with child-reported psychosocial quality of life subscores. Conclusions: Addressing family functioning and integrating psychosocial support into neurofibromatosis type 1 management may enhance adaptation, mental health, and long-term quality of life for affected children and their families.

Children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) commonly experience challenges in both fine and gross motor skills. Nevertheless, the specific domains of dysfunction in these children have yet to be established through comprehensive neurological assessments. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in children with ADHD and identify the specific domains of dysfunction. Participants were 32 children diagnosed with ADHD aged between 5 and 12 years (M = 8.5; 75% male) and 36 typically developing children in the same age range (M = 8.1; 63.9% male). DCD and neurological examination were performed using DCD-Q and Touwen examination, respectively. Children diagnosed with ADHD were more prone to having DCD compared to their peers (p< 0.05). According to Touwen's examination, children with ADHD had dysfunction in the domains of involuntary movements, associated movements, coordination-balance, fine manipulation, and sensory function. When a child is diagnosed with both ADHD and DCD, a personalized approach to evaluating and treating both conditions is necessary. A comprehensive assessment that includes neurological components and identifying dysfunctional domains can help determine the most suitable intervention program for children with ADHD.

Aims: This study aims to examine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of refugee children applying for the Special Needs Report for Children (SNRC) in Turkiye. The study seeks to comprehensively address the challenges encountered during these children’s health evaluations, particularly the impact of language barriers, and how these challenges affect diagnostic and treatment processes. Methods: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on 251 refugee children who applied to the SNRC outpatient clinic at Ankara Etlik City Hospital between June 2023 and June 2024. Participants were analyzed in terms of age, gender, reasons for application, and the percentages they received in each section of the SNRC evaluation. Difficulties arising from language barriers during psychiatric assessments and the functionality of psychometric tests were also examined. Results: The mean age of the 251 refugee children who applied for SNRC within one year was 88.92±56.65 months. The gender distribution revealed that 40.6% (n=102) were female and 59.3% (n=149) were male. The most common diagnosis was delayed developmental milestones (52.6%). Language barriers emerged as a fundamental issue during the assessment processes and were most frequently observed in the Afghan group (78.3%). In the application of psychometric tests, 30.3% of non-compliance was detected due to language barriers. The recommendation rate for follow-up in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry clinic was highest in the Afghan group (47.8%). Conclusion: Language barriers represent a significant obstacle to refugee children’s access to healthcare services. Enhancing translation services and developing cultural adaptation programs are critically important in addressing this issue. This study provides an essential guide for understanding the needs of refugee children and improving healthcare services tailored to them.