{"title":"<i>Letter:</i> Collaborating with Applied Behavior Analysis Teams to Optimize Telehealth Pharmacologic Management of Catatonia in Nonverbal Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.","authors":"Sally Chu, H Yavuz Ince","doi":"10.1089/cap.2025.0021","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2025.0021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"365-368"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143999366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"False Positives for Criterion A Trauma Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms with Questionnaires Are Common in Children and Adolescents and Could Not be Eliminated with Enhanced Instructions.","authors":"Michael S Scheeringa","doi":"10.1089/cap.2024.0126","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2024.0126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Objective:</i></b> Self-report questionnaires are common for measuring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The experience of life threat-Criterion A-serves a gatekeeper function for diagnosing PTSD, and evidence suggests false positives are common on questionnaires. It remains unknown how common they are and whether extra instructions can reduce them. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The present study assessed 42 youths, 10-17 years of age, from a clinic setting. Youths and parents completed regular PTSD questionnaires and then enhanced versions with more detailed instructions and examples of Criterion A and non-Criterion A events. Parents completed a semistructured interview as the verification of true versus false positives. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In the full sample, parents endorsed 41 and children endorsed 45 false positive events. The mean was significantly greater than zero for both parents and children. Parents endorsed 59 and children endorsed 138 false positive symptoms. When false positive events were endorsed, this was significantly associated with more false positive symptoms for both parents and children. An enhanced questionnaire failed to reduce false positive events for the full sample. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> The common occurrence of false positives suggests caution is warranted when interpreting estimates from questionnaire-based research about the prevalence of PTSD. While this attempt to eliminate false positives was not fully successful, there may be other useful enhancements to consider in future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"347-352"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143398980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"<i>SPTAN1</i>-Results of a Caregiver Survey.","authors":"Michelle Wilson, Francis Wong","doi":"10.1089/cap.2024.0100","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2024.0100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> <i>SPTAN1</i> variants are thought to affect the scaffolding that protects the axonal segment of neurons as well as neuronal synapses. The <i>SPTAN1</i> gene is located in the 9q34.11 genomic region and encodes the cytoskeletal protein alpha II spectrin. Epilepsy, encephalopathy, and motor neuropathy are most commonly associated with <i>SPTAN1</i> variants. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> An informed consent and questionnaire were developed in order to gather information from caregivers regarding their family members' <i>SPTAN1</i> variant. Survey results are summarized descriptively, in order of frequency. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The results of a questionnaire filled out by the caregivers of loved ones who have a <i>SPTAN1</i> mutation are summarized for 25 individuals, 14 males and 11 females, who have the <i>SPTAN1</i> mutation. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The results of this survey mirror those reported by other authors and include epilepsy, intellectual and motor delays, encephalopathy, and motor neuropathy. Additional effects of the <i>SPTAN1</i> mutation reported here include absent or difficult speech, happy personality, decline in cognitive and motor skills with age, vision and hearing abnormalities, organ and skeletal effects, autoimmune diseases, and weakened immune systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"353-358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143982310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"<i>Letter:</i> Food and Drug Administration Clearance of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Adolescent Depression in the Absence of Data Supporting Efficacy.","authors":"Kristina T Kumpf, Marcus Hughes, Michael H Bloch","doi":"10.1089/cap.2024.0142","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2024.0142","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"369-371"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143995402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From the Editor-in-Chief's Desk: Improving the Health of Children with Greater Rigor in the Clinical Science of Psychopharmacology.","authors":"Paul E Croarkin","doi":"10.1177/10445463251361069","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10445463251361069","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"319-320"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144642648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bradley J Ferguson, Kristen Dovgan, Mackenzie Hoffman, Molly Hogg, Cayce Rose, David Q Beversdorf
{"title":"Pilot Trial on the Effects of Propranolol on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Heart Rate Variability as a Treatment Response Biomarker.","authors":"Bradley J Ferguson, Kristen Dovgan, Mackenzie Hoffman, Molly Hogg, Cayce Rose, David Q Beversdorf","doi":"10.1089/cap.2024.0002","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2024.0002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, which can impact social interactions, exacerbate social communication deficits, and decrease the quality of life. GI symptoms have been shown to be correlated with the autonomic nervous system and endocrine response to stress in some people with ASD. Furthermore, propranolol, a central and peripheral beta-adrenergic antagonist that inhibits the stress response, has been shown to provide GI relief for some individuals with ASD, but not others. This pilot study examined whether baseline (i.e., resting) heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker that is sensitive to the stress response, predicted the response to propranolol in decreasing GI symptoms. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this pilot study, a sample of 37 individuals with ASD participated in a 12-week open-label trial of propranolol. The Gastrointestinal Severity Index and HRV were collected at baseline (i.e., prior to taking propranolol) and again at the end of the 12-week trial period. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Higher HRV was associated with the greatest reduction in GI symptoms, with a strong effect size, but only for adolescents and young adults (15-24 years old). Baseline HRV and GI change scores were not significantly correlated for younger children (7-14 years old). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The results from this open-label pilot trial suggest that autistic adolescents and young adults with higher baseline HRV, indicating greater parasympathetic tone, may respond better to propranolol and show the greatest reduction in GI symptoms. The data from this pilot should be interpreted with caution until larger, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials of propranolol for GI symptoms in ASD are completed.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"359-364"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sulagna Roy, Giuseppe Colacicco, Giorgia Frigeri, Fabio Tarantino, Emilia Matera, Maria Giuseppina Petruzzelli, Samuele Cortese
{"title":"Definition of Response in Randomized Controlled Trials of Medications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Sulagna Roy, Giuseppe Colacicco, Giorgia Frigeri, Fabio Tarantino, Emilia Matera, Maria Giuseppina Petruzzelli, Samuele Cortese","doi":"10.1089/cap.2025.0029","DOIUrl":"10.1089/cap.2025.0029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evaluating medication efficacy. The absence of a universal definition of treatment response, based on the degree of symptom improvement measured by standardized rating scales in the field of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), makes it difficult to compare treatment outcomes across RCTs. Here, we aimed to assess to what extent and how \"treatment response\" is defined across RCTs of ADHD medications. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We identified eligible RCTs via the MED-ADHD database (https://med-adhd.org/), which compiles RCTs evaluating the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD, based on a comprehensive search in multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, BIOSIS Previews, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE, up to 17 January 2025, alongside additional unpublished information gathered from manufacturers/study authors. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Out of 167 RCTs in MED-ADHD, 88 defined treatment response based on reductions in ADHD core symptom severity using rating scale scores. The most frequently used threshold was a ≥30% reduction in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD-RS) scores, with other RCTs using ≥25%, ≥40%, or ≥50%. In addition, RCTs applied similar cutoff values to alternative scales, including Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale, SNAP-IV, Adult ADHD Investigator Rating Scale, and Wender-Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale. However, 79 studies did not specify any response threshold. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our review underscores and quantitatively defines the inconsistency in the definition of treatment response across ADHD medication trials, highlighting the urgent need for the field to reach a consensus on the use of a standardized definition of \"treatment response\" for each rating scale, based on the percentage reduction in ADHD core symptom severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"321-325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144002396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L Eugene Arnold, Hernan Bozzolo, Lindsay Crowl, Michael Yao, Ashley Jones Reno, Neha Dudipala, Antonino Amato, Lily Hechtman, Jeffrey Newcorn
{"title":"Placebo Response on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Ratings: Application to Multimodal Treatment Study of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 3-Month Outcomes.","authors":"L Eugene Arnold, Hernan Bozzolo, Lindsay Crowl, Michael Yao, Ashley Jones Reno, Neha Dudipala, Antonino Amato, Lily Hechtman, Jeffrey Newcorn","doi":"10.1177/10445463251360685","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10445463251360685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Objective:</i></b> To characterize the size and course of placebo response in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with informant and moderator effects, and illustrate its importance by comparison to Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA) 3-month data. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In two randomized clinical trials parents and teachers rated DSM-IV ADHD symptoms (Sx) on pill placebo at baseline (BL), 8, 12, and 16 weeks for 57 children age 5-12 with ADHD (25 inattentive, 32 combined type) and on an intense 12-week nonmedical control condition (NMCC) for 27 children age 6-12. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Parent- and teacher-rated placebo effects peaked at 12 and 8 weeks, respectively. Changes from BL are significant (<i>p</i> = 0.001) by parent and teacher on inattentive Sx (<i>d</i> = .60, .56 for pill placebo; <i>d</i> = 1.48, .51 for NMCC) and on hyperactive/impulsive Sx by parent (<i>d</i> = 0.48 pill; <i>d</i> = 1.26 NMCC). Teacher-rated hyperactive/impulsive show greater placebo effect September-January than February-May (<i>p</i> = 0.017). Teacher-rated inattentive Sx shows a significant (<i>p</i> = 0.033) interaction of season*subtype. Compared to placebo data, MTA treatments show significant benefit (<i>p</i> = 0.000) at 3 months on both inattentive and HYP/IMP symptoms for medication management and combination groups but not for behavioral treatment (Beh) or community comparison groups, except for teacher-rated HYP/IMP for Beh (<i>p</i> = 0.002). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Parent/teacher ratings show a medium placebo effect for pill placebo and a large effect (<i>d</i> > 1.2) by parent for intense, complex NMCC, suggesting that parent-rated placebo response depends on the complexity/intensity of the control condition. Raters agree on inattentive but diverge on HYP/IMP Sx. Teachers' perceptions of HYP/IMP severity change by season. Pill placebo data indirectly support the 3-month efficacy of two MTA treatments, combination and medication management.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144717987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeremy Hsiang, Fayeza Malik, Anthony Maristany, Alina Kang, Cylena Stewart, Suchitra Joshi, Barbara J Coffey
{"title":"Severe Early-Onset Conduct Disorder and Pervasive Violence in a Patient with Comorbid Neurodevelopmental Disorders.","authors":"Jeremy Hsiang, Fayeza Malik, Anthony Maristany, Alina Kang, Cylena Stewart, Suchitra Joshi, Barbara J Coffey","doi":"10.1177/10445463251358892","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10445463251358892","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144626494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reducing Psychotropic Medication Use in Foster-Care Children with a Personalized Medication Review.","authors":"M Christopher Newland, Erica S Ramey, John T Rapp","doi":"10.1089/cap.2025.0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2025.0022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Investigators and government agencies have expressed concern about the high percentage of foster youth who receive psychotropic medication, the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, and the extended duration for which many foster youth receive psychotropic medication. One contributor to the duration of medication use is the absence of clear guidelines for de-prescribing in pediatric psychiatry. The present study evaluated whether medication review letters crafted by medical professionals and sent to caregivers prompted a reduction in psychotropic medication in foster youth. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The caretaker or caseworker of 52 foster children, 38 males, under 16 years of age, who received medication through Medicaid, was sent a letter assessing the use of psychotropic medication and identifying areas of concern. Recipients were encouraged to discuss the letter with the child's prescriber. These children had been referred to a university-affiliated organization that provided behavioral interventions to other children, but the children in the present study did not receive behavioral interventions from the organization. The use of psychotropic medication was assessed for 18 months before and 24 months after the letter was sent. The control group had comparable demographics and medication-use parameters. The trajectories of medication count before and after a letter (for cases) or a \"phantom\" letter (for controls) was sent were compared. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The medication review letter precipitated a decrease in medication count over the year after the letter was sent for 9- to 12-year-olds. For 13- to 16-year-olds, an increasing trend in medication use was halted. No effect was seen for 5- to 8-year-olds. No such changes occurred in the control groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> A single personalized letter, tailored to a child's medication list, was provided to caregivers to share with prescribers. This decreased or halted an increase in the use of psychotropic medications for children in foster care who were 9 years old or older.</p>","PeriodicalId":15277,"journal":{"name":"Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144540365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}