Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40036059
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Intelligence Assessment in Refugees: Consequences of an IQ Test for an Adolescent from Egypt Assessing the general intelligence of refugees poses a great challenge. Common intelligence tests developed according to Weste...Intelligence Assessment in Refugees: Consequences of an IQ Test for an Adolescent from Egypt Assessing the general intelligence of refugees poses a great challenge. Common intelligence tests developed according to Western concepts are not culture-fair, even when presented nonverbally. Thus, refugees often perform below average on such tests, which does not correspond to the clinical impression. This case report shows that the uncritical interpretation of such test results can lead to significant consequences regarding schooling and housing. Intelligence tests should, therefore, only be carried out for refugees if indicated. When interpreting the results, one must consider the lack of cultural sensitivity and view the determined IQ values as minimum values. Instead of establishing a status diagnosis, one should conduct a process diagnosis that includes an intelligence test, case history, and coping skills. In the future, performance tests should be developed that, with technical support, can be presented in a culturally sensitive way and have norm samples for different ethnic groups and cultures.
Seker S, Bürgin D, Boonmann C
… +9 more, d'Huart D, Jenkel N, Beck K, Leiting M, Crivelli A, Bürgin D, Fegert JM, Schmeck K, Schmid M
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39936641
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The Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Care Leavers Formerly out-of-home placed young adults (i. e., care leavers) were exposed to a variety of cumulative psychosocial stress factors during their childhood. However,...The Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Care Leavers Formerly out-of-home placed young adults (i. e., care leavers) were exposed to a variety of cumulative psychosocial stress factors during their childhood. However, the knowledge about the prevalence of mental disorders among care leavers in German-speaking countries is scarce. This article addresses the prevalence of mental disorders among care leavers and discusses the implications for care systems. Mental disorders, including personality disorders, were assessed using structured clinical interviews among 175 Swiss care leavers (mean age = 26.53 years, 32.00 % women). Descriptive information was presented as absolute and relative frequencies, and correlations and group comparisons were calculated using -tests and -tests. 58.29 % of participants met the diagnostic criteria for at least one mental disorder, with substance use disorders (37.71 %), personality disorders (35.43 %), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (19.43 %) being the most common diagnoses. In comparison, women were more likely to have anxiety disorders and Cluster C personality disorders, while men were more likely to have alcohol use disorders. Our results indicate that approximately half of the Swiss care leavers meet the criteria for the diagnosis of at least one mental disorder in young adulthood. Young adulthood thus represents a sensitive phase for care leavers regarding mental disorders - similar to their peers in the general population. This poses a challenge for residential care institutions and psychiatric care systems to design and further expand preventive services for care leavers with high mental health burdens throughout the transition to adulthood.
Nolkemper D, Schroth J, Doering BK
… +4 more, V Weizsäcker A, Zerbe PS, Kölch M, Bienioschek S
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39936624
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Participation in a Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: What are the Connections Between the Participatory Attitude of Employees and their Personality Factors? Previous studies have demonstrat...Participation in a Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: What are the Connections Between the Participatory Attitude of Employees and their Personality Factors? Previous studies have demonstrated a great desire for participation among underage patients. The implementation of participative elements in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy is influenced by the staff's attitude. The present study investigated the attitude toward the participation of the clinical staff working in a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital department via a questionnaire survey and assessed personality traits that may potentially affect their attitude toward participation. All respondents ( = 54) indicated a positive attitude toward participation, independent of the participants' age and professional background. Participants scoring higher on the personality trait "agreeableness" considered "trust" a more important factor of participation. More research is needed to identify factors that hinder and promote participation in child and adolescent psychiatric treatment and to implement participation in clinical practice.
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39936573
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Parental Distress of Patients Who Refuse to Eat: Toward a Deeper Understanding and Greater Support for Parents of Children Suffering from an Eating Disorder Many parents experience their role as parents of a daughter/so...Parental Distress of Patients Who Refuse to Eat: Toward a Deeper Understanding and Greater Support for Parents of Children Suffering from an Eating Disorder Many parents experience their role as parents of a daughter/son with anorexia nervosa as very troublesome and demanding. In several departments of child and adolescen psychiatry in Germany, the contact between parents and adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa is still restricted because parents are often judged responsible for the eating disorder of their child - or at least seen as troublemakers during their child's inpatient treatment. Parents blame themselves for the development of anorexia nervosa, and in comparison to other mental disorders of adolescence, they experience even more guilt and shame. Many of them suffer from psychiatric disorders themselves (not a few from eating disorders), which reinforce feelings of helplessness and shame. Several parents have partnership problems and must take off work to support their child, which often leads to financial losses for the whole family. They complain that they have insufficient support and feel misunderstood by health professionals whom they wish to have a profound knowledge of the disorder and who would trust and understand the carers. This article provides several recommendations to improve the relationship between parents and therapists: termination of contact restrictions, detailed information for the parents about possible biological and psychological causes of eating disorders, including psychoeducational groups and involvement in treatment, not only through therapeutic conversations but also through practical exercises such as meal support. An innovative approach is home treatment, which offers the chance to integrate parents into treatment and thus improve their skills in handling their daughter´s/son´s illness. We should be aware that parents are the most important resource to help young patients with debilitating eating disorders.
Gradl-Dietsch G, Graf L, Hagemann M
… +2 more, Seitz J, Masuch M
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39806995
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Employing Emotional Virtual Characters for Teaching in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Communication and interaction are central to teaching child and adolescent psychiatry, with practical exercises often needing more a...Employing Emotional Virtual Characters for Teaching in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Communication and interaction are central to teaching child and adolescent psychiatry, with practical exercises often needing more access to actual patients or actors. Virtual reality (VR) offers an innovative solution by enabling simulation-based learning. With the help of computer-generated, interactive characters, students can practice repeatedly and in a standardized way how to conduct a medical interview and acquire communication skills. Initial tests with students show a high level of acceptance and believability despite the need for optimization of the voice input and the student's desire to use such new technology in teaching in the future. The next step will be to evaluate the benefits of the VR application regarding learning success and the influence of the teaching method on motivation and enjoyment of learning.
Nolkemper D, Doering BK, Schroth J
… +4 more, Hausmann T, Zerbe PS, Kölch M, Bienioschek S
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39671170
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Participation in the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Do Personality Traits Affect the Difference Between the Desire and Experience of Participation? Participation and codetermination are i...Participation in the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Do Personality Traits Affect the Difference Between the Desire and Experience of Participation? Participation and codetermination are important rights of children and adolescents. The present study examined discrepancies between the desire and experience of participation, their relationship with treatment satisfaction, and which patient-related variables are associated with the reported discrepancies. Forty adolescents from the inpatient unit or the day clinic of the university clinic of Ruppin-Brandenburg answered a questionnaire concerning their desire for and experience of participation. Additionally, we assessed sociodemographic data and personality traits. Patients experienced less participation than desired. The highest discrepancy was found in items concerning communication with family and friends. Two personality traits had significant positive effects on the discrepancy of desired and experienced participation: "suspicious schizotypical" and "loyal-dependent." Minors want more participation than they actually experience. We need flexible concepts, especially concerning communication with family and friends, to reduce the discrepancy between the desire and the experience of participation. Giving patients the possibility to participate and encouraging them to do so should be emphasized, especially with patients with the personality traits "suspicious-schizotypical" and "loyal-dependent."
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39632760
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Autoimmune psychosis (AP), defined as an isolated schizophreniform psychosis with no or only minimal neurological abnormalities stemming from autoantibody-associated cerebral processes, is a very rare and potentially und...Autoimmune psychosis (AP), defined as an isolated schizophreniform psychosis with no or only minimal neurological abnormalities stemming from autoantibody-associated cerebral processes, is a very rare and potentially underdiagnosed disorder in children and adolescents. This article reports the case of a 13-year-old boy who became acutely ill with a psychotic disorder following a respiratory infection. We describe the diagnosis and course of treatment in detail. Following an extensive interdisciplinary workup, a probable glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-associated AP was diagnosed that ultimately remitted completely with treatment. Autoimmune psychoses remain a relatively uncharted territory for the specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. Good interdisciplinary cooperation is essential for patients with somewhat atypical psychotic symptoms, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 · PMID 39535265
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In 2018, Herwig Czech (2018, 2020) and Edith Sheffer (2018) accused Hans Asperger of complicity in the Nazi child euthanasia program also because of his participation in the Gugging Commission. We reviewed all documents...In 2018, Herwig Czech (2018, 2020) and Edith Sheffer (2018) accused Hans Asperger of complicity in the Nazi child euthanasia program also because of his participation in the Gugging Commission. We reviewed all documents related to the Commission to clarify Asperger's role. The Commission consisted of officials from Vienna and Lower Danube and had the primary task of determining which children admitted to Gugging could attend an auxiliary school. As part of the investigations, a group of children was also diagnosed as incapable of learning and developing normally based on a list prepared by Gugging's Director. According to two documents prepared for the Commission, these children were to be assigned to the "Aktion Jekelius". The two authors imply that "Aktion Jekelius" was a cover term for the murder of these children and was known as such. However, this designation was communicated only within the Reich Governor's Office in Lower Danube. According to the available documents, there is no indication that Hans Asperger, as a member of the Vienna delegation, knew about "Aktion Jekelius" and its hidden murderous intentions. He therefore had no reason to refuse to participate in the Commission. Analysis of the subsequent transfers of children to Spiegelgrund showed no direct connection with the Commission's activities.
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39513727
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Current State of Research on Surf Therapy and its Possible Application as an Intervention for Adolescent Depression Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders experienced in adolescence. Because of its...Current State of Research on Surf Therapy and its Possible Application as an Intervention for Adolescent Depression Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders experienced in adolescence. Because of its high prevalence rates and significant impact on affected individuals, alternative and complementary interventions are being explored. In recent years, physical activity has received increasing attention as a form of treatment. Current reviews highlight the potential benefits of this therapeutic approach in reducing depressive symptoms. Surf therapy is an innovative approach in the field of physical activity that additionally utilizes the therapeutic effects of the ocean. It combines surfing with structured exercises to promote mental and physical well-being. Internationally, surf therapy is already being applied to children and adolescents dealing with mental health problems as well as to adults diagnosed with conditions such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Initial studies suggest positive effects of surf therapy in terms of symptom reduction, although the research is limited and requires further investigation. We present our pilot study investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of surf therapy for the treatment of adolescent depression in Germany.
Fegert JM, Sachser C, Pusch M
… +2 more, Kliemann A, Gerke J
Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother
· 2024 Nov · PMID 39410908
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Epistemological Misunderstandings of the German Federal Court of Justice in Criminal Cases Regarding the Null Hypothesis: Verification in the Credibility Assessment The article deals with the decision of the German Fed...Epistemological Misunderstandings of the German Federal Court of Justice in Criminal Cases Regarding the Null Hypothesis: Verification in the Credibility Assessment The article deals with the decision of the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) in criminal matters regarding credibility assessment dated 30 July 1999 (1 StR 618/98, BGHSt 45, 164). Regarding criminal matters, the BGH formulated specific requirements for credibility assessments based on two published scientific expert reports. We analyzed conflicting postulates of scientific theory in the expert reports and the reception of these principles in the BGH judgment by examining the original quotes. Given the central importance of this BGH decision, we analyzed the original expert reports for their epistemological content. The BGH formulated the scientific approach of starting from the assumption that the statement is untrue - the so-called "null hypothesis". In doing so, it referred to Popper's deductivism, albeit without addressing the rules of hypothesis testing. Based on the second expert report, which argues for inductive.