Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry最新文献

{"title":"PTSD, dysregulation profile and substance use: exploring differences in a sample of adolescents in an outpatient clinic.","authors":"Emely Reyentanz, Lukas A Basedow, Veit Roessner, Yulia Golub","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1421486","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1421486","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Experiencing traumatic events (TEs), especially interpersonal TEs, is related to an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both TEs and PTSD are associated with a higher risk of substance use and problems in emotion regulation. Little is known about the associations between specific types of TEs, problems with general self-regulation (including cognitive and behavioral components) and substance use severity in adolescents. Knowledge on these associations could provide important approaches for prevention and therapy for adolescents with a history of trauma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigated associations between different types of TEs and PTSD, self-regulation and substance use severity. Moreover, participants were categorized into three groups according to their trauma status: (I) no history of TEs (noTEs), (II) history of TEs but no PTSD diagnosis (TEs), and (III) history of TEs and PTSD diagnosis (PTSD). Differences between the three groups were analyzed in terms of self-regulation and substance use severity. Our sample consisted of <i>N</i> = 89 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in a child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinic in Germany. Substance use severity was only assessed in a smaller subsample (<i>n</i> = 37). Data were obtained from standardized diagnostic procedures and included information on types of TEs and PTSD diagnosis according to ICD-10, problems in self-regulation assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)/ Youth Self Report (YSR) Dysregulation Profile (DP), and substance use severity measured with the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that interpersonal TEs were significantly associated with higher rates of PTSD diagnosis compared to non-interpersonal TEs. We found no significant associations between different types of TEs and both problems in self-regulation and substance use severity. Moreover, our findings do not indicate differences in both self-regulation and substance use severity between trauma statuses (noTEs, TEs, PTSD).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Future studies should consider other characteristics of TEs such as timing and duration when investigating associations with self-regulation. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate developmental pathways, as a better understanding of the role of characteristics of TEs and self-regulation in the development of PTSD and substance use problems would provide opportunities for prevention and therapy for trauma-exposed patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1421486"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732090/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical activity and its benefits on adolescents' mental health through self-esteem.","authors":"Catherine Laurier, Katherine Pascuzzo, Vicky Jubinville, Annie Lemieux","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1503920","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1503920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific community has been concerned about the high rates of psychological distress among adolescents. The pandemic not only tested adolescents' adaptation, but also disrupted key areas of their development. This demonstrates the need to study their psychological adjustment over time during this critical period to better guide services.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study sought to explore the extent to which physical activity and its association with self-esteem in the first months of the pandemic impacted adolescents' psychological distress, six months later.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two hundred and ninety-four adolescents (73% girls) between the ages of 12 and 17 participated in a longitudinal study launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of hours spent engaging in physical activity (HPA) in the past week and self-esteem were measured at Time 1 (T1; summer 2020). Psychological distress was measured at T1 and Time 2 (T2; winter 2021).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More HPA in the past week were related to greater self-esteem at T1. Greater self-esteem at T1 was related to lower psychological distress, six months later (T2). Lastly, HPA in the past week was not directly linked to psychological distress at T2, which confirms a fully indirect model.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results suggest that physical activity is a key factor in promoting better mental health adjustment through its benefits in terms of self-esteem, even during times of turmoil. Findings reinforce the recommendation of promoting the practice of sports and athletic activity in difficult times.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1503920"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732102/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Early identification and prevention of suicidal crisis in children and young people.","authors":"Emma Ashworth, Saskia Mérelle, Pooja Saini","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1507862","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1507862","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1507862"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"The package has been opened\"- parents' perspective and social validity of an Early Start Denver Model intervention for young children with autism.","authors":"Emilia Carlsson, Gudrun Nygren, Christopher Gillberg, Petra Linnsand","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1509828","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1509828","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to capture experiences and perspectives of parents of children with autism participating in an intervention program based on the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). Specifically, we wanted their views regarding feasibility, acceptability, and significance of the intervention program, i.e., its social validity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fourteen parents, whose children has been diagnosed with autism, were interviewed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results included three themes (1) <i>Comprehensive approach</i>: the participants emphasized the importance of early detection and interventions in their local setting in close cooperation between themselves, health care professionals, and preschool staff. They also highlighted the individual goals based on the child's needs in different developmental areas, as well as the whole family's needs and prioritizations. (2) <i>Hands on-available locally and accessible:</i> focused on different aspects of procedures, including features of the ESDM, parent education, the parent-therapist relationship and nearby location. (3) <i>Sense of empowerment-parents got increased knowledge:</i> the intervention was significant within family daily living and daily activities. The participants expressed that the interventions program contributed to an increased knowledge about autism and the ESDM strategies, positively impacted their child, and improved the collaboration with the preschool.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Parents emphasized the naturalistic, comprehensive, and local setting of the intervention and described that they had gained new knowledge as well a sense of empowerment. The results indicated that the intervention program based on the ESDM was socially valid according to parent descriptions.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1509828"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731605/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling autism spectrum disorder in South East Asia through a public health Lens.","authors":"Alok Kumar, Sudip Bhattacharya","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1489269","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1489269","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Though there is no cure, early and intensive interventions can significantly improve the quality of life for those affected. The aim of this paper is to examine the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a public health perspective in South East Asian region, highlighting the global rise in prevalence and the compounded challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in ASD prevalence from 4 to 5 cases per 10,000 children in the 1980s to 11.3 per 1,000 children in 2012 highlights the need for effective interventions. The pandemic exacerbated behavioral issues, anxiety, and screen time-related health problems, underscoring the importance of adjusting strategies for early identification and support. Diagnostic tools like the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) play a critical role in community-based screening. Effective prevention strategies include primary measures such as public awareness campaigns and genetic counseling, secondary measures focusing on early identification and intervention, and tertiary measures involving ongoing support and therapy. Addressing implementation challenges, particularly in low-income countries, requires enhanced public awareness, training of community health workers, and integration of ASD services into primary healthcare systems. Future research should aim to develop and evaluate scalable, culturally relevant interventions and explore the impact of environmental factors on ASD. Comprehensive strategies at the community level, combined with robust public health policies, are crucial for improving outcomes for individuals with ASD and their families.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1489269"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732031/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cognitive outcomes of the at-home brain balance program.","authors":"Rebecca Jackson, Yue Meng","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1450695","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1450695","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accessibility to developmental interventions for children and adolescents could be increased through virtual, at-home delivery of training programs. Virtual childhood training programs and their effects on cognitive outcomes have not been well studied. To that end, this study examined the effects of the at-home Brain Balance® (BB) program on the cognitive task performance of children and adolescents with baseline developmental and attentional difficulties. The study included students with reported diagnosis of ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, or dyslexia, and students with no reported diagnosis (aged 4-17 years). The at-home BB program is delivered through (1) a computer-based format utilizing multimodal program activities previously studied in-center (multisensory stimulation, gross motor, coordination, balance, and nutritional recommendations); and (2) the BB app (visual motor, auditory and visual processing, and rhythm and timing training) - creating a comprehensive program experience delivered remotely. Cognitive performance was measured by six cognitive tasks from Creyos Health before and after 3 months of participation in the at-home BB program (<i>N</i> = 316) or in-center BB program (<i>N</i> = 4,232), compared to controls. Results showed that overall cognitive assessment scores (including attention, response inhibition, and working memory) improved after participation in either the at-home or the in-center program, compared to controls. Importantly, significant improvements over the controls were observed for two tasks involving attention and inhibitory control, in both programs. Further, two analyses support that the effects on cognitive performance from either delivery format, in-center or at home, are comparable in magnitude. This research: (1) presents new findings demonstrating improved cognitive performance after completing the at-home BB program; (2) replicates previous findings of cognitive improvements after completing the BB program; and (3) suggests that the cognitive effects of virtual at-home BB training are similar to those observed for in-center BB training. Overall, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the at-home BB program in improving cognitive functioning in pediatric populations with preexisting developmental and attentional difficulties. Virtual delivery and ease of use, provide at-home programs the potential to reduce barriers of access to much-needed developmental and cognitive support, for individuals who may otherwise lack access to high-quality, evidence-based developmental programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1450695"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731937/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and interpersonal relationships among youth with a child maltreatment history.","authors":"Julie-Anne McCarthy, Ana M Osorio, Tamara L Taillieu, Ashley Stewart-Tufescu, Tracie O Afifi","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1434496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcha.2024.1434496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on youth health and well-being. Youth with prior inequities, such as those exposed to child maltreatment, may have experienced greater psychosocial challenges and long-term difficulties than their peers, including sustained interpersonal relationships problems. Given the importance of healthy relationships during adolescence and early adulthood, the significant impact the pandemic had on youth, and the potential disproportionate challenges for youth with a child maltreatment history, the purpose of the present study was to better understand changes in relational conflict among youth with and without a child maltreatment history from the perspectives of youth themselves. Specifically, the aims were to examine if youth child maltreatment history was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting increased conflict with (a) parents, (b) siblings, or (c) intimate partners during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were drawn from the Well-Being and Experiences (WE) Study; a longitudinal and intergenerational cohort study of 1,000 youth/parent dyads in Manitoba, Canada that began in 2017. WE study data were collected annually via self-reported youth surveys between 2017 and 2022 for a total of 5 waves of data collection, and COVID-19 questions were included in Waves 3 (2020), 4 (2021) and 5 (2022) (<i>n</i> = 586, 56.43% female, ages 18 to 21 at Wave 5). Multinomial regressions models were computed to examine whether a youth's child maltreatment history was associated with increased, decreased, or consistent levels of conflict with parents, siblings, and intimate partners in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicated that compared to youth with no child maltreatment history, youth with a child maltreatment history were more likely to report increased conflict across all three types of relationships during first three years of the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Findings contribute to our understanding of the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and interpersonal relationships among youth who have a child maltreatment history compared to their peers without child maltreatment histories, signal potential long-term challenges or inequities for youth and families with a history of maltreatment, and may inform policy, programming, intervention, and recovery efforts in the post-COVID-19 period, and for future global emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1434496"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731641/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early childhood psychopathology and parental mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of pandemic restrictions on 0- to 3-year-olds.","authors":"K Keller, S Taubner, A K Georg","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1441969","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1441969","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic placed many restrictions on families and affected the mental health of parents and children. The present study examines how the restrictions imposed during the pandemic and parental mental health affect early childhood psychopathology.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>From September 2019 to December 2021, the Outpatient Department of Family Therapy at the Institute for Psychosocial Prevention, Heidelberg surveyed a clinical sample of 249 families who sought consultation for early childhood psychopathology. Early childhood psychopathology in children aged 0-3 years was assessed using the German Questionnaire for Crying, Feeding and Sleeping and the German version of the Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5. The Patient Health Questionnaire provided information on parental depressiveness and generalized anxiety. At the same time, the Stringency Index as part of the Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker indicated the severity of COVID restrictions in Germany.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dependent comparisons did not reveal significant differences in the infants' regulatory problems (<i>n</i> = 165, mean age = 8 months) during the lockdown compared to reopening phases. However, older children (<i>n</i> = 84, mean age = 25 months) exhibited more behavioral problems during lockdowns compared to reopening phases (Cohen's <i>d</i> = 0.32, <i>p</i> = .04). Subsequent regression analyses confirmed a slight increase in behavioral problems only among children aged 1.5-3 years (<i>p</i> = .047, <i>R</i> ² = .08), but did not indicate any increase in parental mental health problems when more restrictions were in place. However, parental depressiveness had a strong independent effect on early childhood psychopathology. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that psychopathology in children aged 1.5-3 years is best explained by female child gender, high parental depressiveness, and more severe restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic (<i>p</i> < .001, <i>R</i> ² = .17) whereas early childhood psychopathology in infants aged 0-1.5 years is more prevalent in younger and male children with parents experiencing higher levels of depressiveness (<i>p</i> < .001, <i>R</i> ² = .26).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The study found no increase in infant regulatory disorders or parental depressiveness and generalized anxiety during the pandemic. However, older children exhibited more behavioral problems during more severe pandemic restrictions. The study supports the provision of parent-child support during crises and beyond, as early childhood psychopathology was strongly associated with parental depressiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1441969"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Findings from an expert focus group on psychotropic medication deprescribing practices for children and youth with complex needs.","authors":"Laura Theall, Ajit Ninan, Melissa Currie","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1481446","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1481446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Psychotropic medication can be effective at stabilizing emotional and behavioural disturbances associated with physiological processes in children and youth. When medication benefits, indication or adverse effects are queried, deprescribing should be considered. Current guidelines for deprescribing are mainly for adults/elderly and largely theoretical, not practical, especially for polypharmacy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>At a tertiary center for children and youth with complex emotional and behavioural needs, physicians on staff have expertise in conducting assessments of medication efficacy, side effect burden, and safety concerns. Deprescribing is routinely undertaken in the context of inpatient and outpatient services in partnership with children/youth and their families. A qualitative initiative leveraged the specialized deprescribing expertise of eight physicians (six psychiatrists and two pediatricians).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Emerging themes were medication review, timing, a stepwise approach, and setting conditions (inpatient and outpatient), with recurring subcategories of patient/family engagement as well as the underlying importance of continuity of care with psychosocial/behavioural supports.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings from this expert focus group serve as a step towards supporting prescribing clinicians in mindful deprescribing when medications are no longer in the best interest of young patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1481446"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Androgyny and atypical sensory sensitivity associated with savant ability: a comparison between Klinefelter syndrome and sexual minorities assigned male at birth.","authors":"Shintaro Tawata, Kikue Sakaguchi, Atsuko Saito","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1356802","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2024.1356802","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The <i>extreme male brain</i> (EMB) theory, a major causal hypothesis of autism (ASD: autism spectrum disorder), attributes excess androgens during early development as one of the causes. While studies have generally followed the EMB theory in females at birth, the co-occurrence of ASD in males at birth has been observed in conditions that are assumed to be associated with reduced androgen action during early development, including Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and sexual minorities. ASD is also associated with atypical sensory sensitivity, synesthesia, and savant syndrome.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the present study, we examined adult KS individuals (<i>n</i> = 22), sexual minorities assigned male at birth (<i>n</i> = 66), and control males matched for age and educational background to those with KS [Exploratory analysis (control 1st): <i>n</i> = 36; Reanalysis (control 2nd): <i>n</i> = 583]. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire assessing sensory hypersensitivity/hyposensitivity, savant tendency (developed for the present study), synesthesia, and sexual aspects, including gender identity and sexual orientation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results of the exploratory analysis suggested that individuals with KS exhibited a higher tendency toward sensory hypersensitivity/hyposensitivity than the tendency exhibited by the controls. In the Reanalysis, sexual minorities were more likely to be synesthetes, and in both analyses sexual minorities exhibited a higher savant tendency and sensory hypersensitivity/hyposensitivity than the controls. Moreover, the gender dysphoric state was associated with phenotypes observed in individuals with ASD, such as synesthesia, savant tendency, and sensory hypersensitivity/hyposensitivity.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results suggest a common physiological background among gender dysphoria, synesthesia, savant tendency, and atypical sensory sensitivity. Thus, androgynous features (reduced effects of sex steroids during early development) in males at birth may be partially related to the phenotype commonly observed in individuals with ASD. Based on the present results, we propose that the reduction of sex steroids during early development may lead to atypical neurodevelopment and be involved in the atypicality of external and internal sensory perception, and thus in the atypicality of self-concept integration, through the disruption of oxytocin and the gamma-aminobutyric acid system modulating the neural excitation/inhibition balance.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"3 ","pages":"1356802"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732014/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}