Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry最新文献

{"title":"Beyond expression: structured art-based therapy and attention span in pupils with intellectual disability.","authors":"Udeme Samuel Jacob, Sri Nuthayati, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1798631","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1798631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Attentional deficits remain a significant barrier to learning among pupils with intellectual disability, particularly in resource-constrained educational settings where access to specialised interventions is limited. This study examined the effect of a structured art-based intervention on attention span and explored the moderating role of disability severity among pupils with intellectual disability.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test control group design with a 2 × 2 factorial structure was employed. Twenty pupils with mild and moderate intellectual disability were purposively selected and assigned at the school level to intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of 24 structured sessions integrating painting, clay modelling, music, and guided reflection activities designed to promote sustained attentional engagement. Attention span was measured using the Moss Attention Rating Scale, while data were analysed using analysis of covariance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results revealed a statistically significant improvement in attention span among pupils exposed to the intervention, with a large effect size. Pupils with mild intellectual disability demonstrated higher post-test attention scores than those with moderate disability, although the interaction effect was not statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings suggest that structured art-based intervention may enhance attentional engagement among pupils with intellectual disability and provide a low-cost, teacher-implemented strategy for inclusive classrooms in low-resource contexts. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size and cluster-based design.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1798631"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13272330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148280200","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":"Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an infant preemptive intervention for prodromes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) delivered within an Italian tertiary hospital.","authors":"Costanza Colombi, Natasha Chericoni, Eugenia Conti, Ilaria Colombino, Giulia Guainai, Benedetta Riva, Fabio Apicella, Sara Calderoni, Andrea Guzzetta","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1776508","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1776508","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with early-emerging social-communication atypicalities, yet diagnosis and access to specialized intervention often occur years after prodromal signs first appear. Preemptive, parent-mediated Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) delivered in the first year of life have shown promise, but evidence for their feasibility and clinical impact within routine public services remains limited. This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of FIRRST (Fostering Infant Responsivity and Reciprocity-Support to Thrive), a telehealth NDBI program for infants under 15 months with early signs of ASD, implemented in an Italian tertiary child neuropsychiatric hospital.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Infants younger than 15 months were recruited following identification as at elevated likelihood for ASD on the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised (SACS-R) and exclusion of neurological conditions determined by specialists. Eligible families (&lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt; = 30) participated in weekly, 1-h, telehealth, parent-mediated FIRRST sessions for six months, delivered by trained clinicians and supporting social engagement, communication, play, motor development, and environmental enrichment within everyday routines. Feasibility and acceptability outcomes included recruitment, retention, and a parent satisfaction questionnaire, while caregiver implementation of NDBI strategies (MONSI-CC) was the primary clinical outcome; secondary outcomes were children's ASD symptoms (BOSCC), developmental level (Griffiths III), adaptive functioning (Vineland-II), and parental stress (PSI-4), assessed at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and post-intervention (T2) using repeated-measures ANOVA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Of 44 screened families, 30 were enrolled and 28 completed the full program, yielding an attrition rate of 6.7%; dropouts were attributed to practical constraints rather than intervention-related factors. Parental satisfaction ratings were predominantly positive across domains of perceived usefulness, therapeutic alliance, and impact on the child's enjoyment and social engagement. Caregivers showed significant, progressive improvements from T0 to T2 across all MONSI-CC domains and total score, paralleled by significant reductions in BOSCC social-communication and restricted and repetitive behavior scores and gains in Griffiths III and Vineland-II domain and composite scores, whereas PSI-4 total and subscale scores did not show significant change over time. Among the 17 children eligible for the ADOS-2 Toddler Module at T2, mean total and domain scores were in the low range, consistent with relatively mild ASD symptom expression at post-intervention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion: &lt;/strong&gt;FIRRST was feasible and acceptable for families of infants with ASD prodromes within a public child neuropsychiatric hospital, ","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1776508"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13269263/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148273994","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":"Clinical and sociodemographic characterization of a sibling-matched cohort of children with autism Spectrum disorder in Uruguay.","authors":"Lucia Lamberti, Camila Rusiñol, Andreina Guisande, Florencia Peñalba, Maite Irastorza, Florencia Konik, Andrés Parada, Claudio Iglesias, Paula Mendive, Nadia Riera, Gabriela Garrido","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1835921","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1835921","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study characterized clinical, sociodemographic, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal variables in 55 families, comparing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to neurotypical siblings. Primary objectives were to delineate sociodemographic profiles and systemic barriers, establish a clinical-nutritional baseline for Uruguayan children, and generate metadata for future microbiome research. We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control study including children aged 4-10 years and sibling controls. Professionals collected data via clinical interviews. Findings indicate a higher male prevalence in the ASD group. Mothers predominantly participated in caregiving and interviews. In the ASD group, 60% of pregnancies had complications, including 12 twin pregnancies. No significant differences were found regarding parental age, delivery method, prematurity, or birth anthropometry. Head circumference at birth did not associate with regression or severity. All children with ASD showed sensory particularities; 94.3% reported gastrointestinal symptoms. We observed a 20-month diagnostic gap and 65% regression rates between 12 and 36 months. These data highlight the need for improved early detection and provide essential local evidence for the Uruguayan ASD population. This interdisciplinary approach bridges clinical practice and research, advancing contextualized care in Uruguay.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1835921"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13260601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254628","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 microbiota-gut-brain axis as a modulator of symptom expression in autism spectrum disorder, with exploratory insights into ADHD: evidence from a structured narrative review on paediatric population.","authors":"Alessandra Carta, Maria Pia Riccio, Alessandro Miola, Vanna Cavassa, Mariangela Valentina Puci, Giuseppe Abbracciavento, Sara Carucci, Fabio Sambataro, Carmela Bravaccio, Stefano Sotgiu","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1835043","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1835043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are increasingly conceptualized as multisystem neurodevelopmental conditions involving behavioral, gastrointestinal, immune, and metabolic alterations. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) has been proposed as a key framework linking these systems, although evidence from human studies remains heterogeneous and inconclusive. We conducted a structured narrative review of pediatric human studies investigating the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in ASD and ADHD, excluding preclinical and animal studies. PRISMA 2020 principles were used as a transparency framework to support reporting of study identification, screening, and eligibility. Observational, cohort, and interventional studies were synthesized with particular attention to study design, methodology, associations with standardized clinical scales, dietary factors, and therapeutic implications. Across ASD (<i>n</i> = 90), most studies were observational, predominantly cross-sectional or case-control in designs, reporting consistent associations between ASD symptom severity and gastrointestinal symptoms, intestinal permeability, immune activation, and dietary selectivity. Evidence in ADHD (<i>n</i> = 21) was substantially more limited and largely observational. Diet emerged as a major modulating and confounding factor in microbiota-behavior associations. Interventional studies involving probiotics, microbiota transfer therapy, and other gut-directed approaches showed more consistent improved gastrointestinal outcomes but showed modest and heterogeneous effects on core ASD symptoms, often limited to subgroups with prominent gastrointestinal comorbidities. To strengthen interpretation of interventional findings, randomized trial reports and non-randomized interventional studies were appraised according to study design, whereas the predominantly heterogeneous observational literature was interpreted narratively. Overall, this review suggests that MGBA alterations may be better conceptualized as modifiers of symptom expression, particularly in ASD and with only emerging relevance in ADHD, rather than as disorder-specific causal mechanisms. This interpretation underscores the need for stratified, longitudinal, and clinically informed research frameworks, in line with the focus of the present research topic.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1835043"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13253956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254720","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":"Personal and familial needs of parents with toddlers: a qualitative study exploring the needs of parents in urban Bengaluru, India.","authors":"Chaithra Holla, Bino Thomas, M Thomas Kishore, Sphoorthi Prabhu, Manjula Basavaraju","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1664652","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1664652","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parenting is multifactorial and existing literature on parenting highlights the role of parental stress, family and environmental factors shaping parenting that influence child development. There is a dearth of literature on the needs of parents with toddlers in the Indian socio-cultural context. Identifying them helps in planning pragmatic interventions.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The present study aimed to understand the personal and familial needs of parents with toddlers.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>The study adopted an exploratory research design using semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Setting and participants: </strong>The study was conducted in urban Bengaluru, India. Interviews were conducted with eight professionals and ten parents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The first theme was Personal needs which included sub-themes, namely Lack of personal space, Poor help-seeking behaviour, Emotional experiences, and Coping skills. The second theme was Familial needs, which included sub-themes: Support, Challenges related to communication, Differences in parenting practices, and Grandparenting.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study findings indicated the need for including the content on parental self-care and family dynamics in parenting programme.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1664652"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13243268/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213570","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":"Usability testing of a digital tool to support behavioural activation for depression with young people aged 12 to 18.","authors":"Lucy Tindall, Philip Kerrigan, Emma Standley, Susan Metcalfe, Matthew O'Brien, Lina Gega","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1799929","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1799929","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescents with depression cannot access timely support due to pressures on specialist mental health services. We developed and tested a manualised version of behavioural activation-a brief psychological intervention-for delivery in the community by non-specialists. We digitalised the paper version of the behavioural activation manual as a more accessible and user-friendly route for completing therapy tasks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Young people who received manual-based behavioural activation as part of a large trial were invited to test the digital tool. Following a demonstration, participants were asked to use the digital tool in their own time over 4 weeks, completing tasks such as activity scheduling that they had previously completed using pen and paper. Participants then attended a one-to-one interview lasting approximately 30 min to provide feedback on the digital tool. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using Template Analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 14 participants, aged 13-to-17-years <i>[M:</i>15.4 (<i>SD</i> = 1.6)] and comprising 10 females, 3 males and one individual who was non-binary took part. Five key themes, each comprising two subthemes, were identified. These centred on a) the perceived strengths of the digital tool, b) access and engagement, c) using the digital tool both independently and with a professional as well as its position in the wider treatment pathway, d) the role of the digital tool in relapse prevention and e) suggested ways to enhance the overall utility of and engagement with the digital tool.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, the young people perceived the digital tool to be a useful and accessible resource that could support their mental health journey, both during and after therapy. The digital tool's features for planning, reflection, and visualizing progress were particularly valued. Identified improvements included the incorporation of reminders, in-app guidance, customization options, and a journalling feature to enhance engagement and the therapeutic value of the digital tool.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN57377955 Identifier: ISRCTN57377955.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1799929"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13233449/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201494","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":"Geographic variation and neighbourhood correlates of mental health-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits in children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.","authors":"Tony Antoniou, Peter Gozdyra, Daniel Fridman, Kathleen Pajer, Tara Gomes, Melanie Penner, Mina Tadrous, David N Juurlink, William Gardner","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1575531","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1575531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased mental health-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in children and youth. However, population-based studies examining geographic variation in, and neighbourhood correlates of, acute mental health service use in this population during the pandemic are lacking.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a population-based study examining geographic variation in and neighbourhood correlates of mental health-related hospitalizations and ED visits among Ontario children and youth. We used hot spot analyses to visualize geographic variation in service use before (March 2017 to February 2020) and during (March 2020 to July 2021) the pandemic. We used spatial regression models to estimate unstandardized and standardized coefficients of the association between neighbourhood characteristics and acute mental health service use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mental health-related hospitalization and ED visit rates were highest in rural and northern Ontario. The variables most strongly associated with hospitalization rates within the same neighbourhood were neighbourhood income and family size. A one standard deviation (SD) increase in income was associated with a 0.50 (95% CI: -0.56 to -0.43) SD decrease in hospitalization rates, while a one SD increase in family size was associated with a 0.35 (95% CI: 0.29-0.42) SD increase in hospitalization rates. Additionally, increases of one SD in neighbourhood income, the proportion of the population speaking neither English nor French, and remoteness were associated with respective increases in the SD of hospitalization rates of in adjacent areas. Neighbourhood income and remoteness were strongly associated with ED visit rates, with each standard deviation increase in income associated with a 0.52 (95% CI: -0.57 to -0.47) standard deviation decrease in ED visits while each standard deviation increase in remoteness was associated with a 0.29 (95% CI: 0.21-0.37) standard deviation increase in ED visit rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Geographic location and neighbourhood socioeconomic and demographic factors influenced acute mental health service use among children and youth during the pandemic. These findings highlight the need for targeted social interventions that address neighbourhood disparities and bolster mental health services in vulnerable regions, particularly in preparation for future large-scale disruptions.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1575531"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13222987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148152335","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":"Case Report: When pain is shown and silenced. adolescents looking for a voice.","authors":"Daniela Tortorelli","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1829312","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1829312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past two decades, adolescent psychological distress has increased markedly, with a growing number of young people experiencing intense suffering that cannot be verbalised and is instead expressed through the body, including self-harming behaviours and social withdrawal. These manifestations are frequently associated with poor therapeutic engagement and complex family dynamics characterised by emotional intrusion, overprotection, or relational absence. From a systemic and narrative perspective, symptoms are understood as meaningful communications embedded within family systems, transgenerational histories, and contemporary socio-cultural transformations. Social changes related to digital hyperconnection, altered parenting practices, and performance-oriented cultural models have reshaped adolescent subjectivity, privileging action and bodily expression over narration and mentalisation. This paper explores \"shown pain\" as a primary mode of communication in adolescence and examines the clinical transition from bodily enactment to narrated experience. Drawing on systemic theory, narrative psychotherapy, and neurobiological insights, the article analyses the emotional dimensions underlying self-harm and withdrawal, as well as the ambivalent regulatory functions of symptoms. A clinical case is presented to illustrate how an integrated therapeutic approach, combining individual and family therapy, can facilitate alternative narratives, support differentiation processes, and promote individual and relational change. The paper highlights the relevance of systemic psychotherapy in restoring meaning, voice, and relational listening in severe adolescent distress.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1829312"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219281/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139994","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: Interdisciplinary approaches to enhancing child and adolescent mental health in schools.","authors":"Oliver Ramos-Álvarez, Víctor Arufe-Giráldez, Alba Ibáñez-García","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1856742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcha.2026.1856742","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1856742"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13201465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148044918","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 effectiveness of serious games for training of attention and executive functions: a systematic review.","authors":"Vincenza Tommasi, Antonella Spinelli, Valentina Siena, Chiara Romano, Francesca Bruno, Giuliana Nardacchione, Chiara Valeria Marinelli","doi":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1801077","DOIUrl":"10.3389/frcha.2026.1801077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Evidence suggests that Serious games (SG) can be effective for improving specific neuropsychological skills. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of SGs for training attention and executive functions (EFs) in children and the degree of \"far transfer\" from digital training to real-world academic and behavioral outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA (2020) guidelines on Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases. Only studies on school-aged population with a pre- and post-training assessment of attention and EFs and with a control group were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The screening process yielded nine relevant studies. SGs improve attention and EFs, such as working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition in typically developing children, as well as in children with ADHD, intellectual disabilities, behavioral disorders, autism and difficulty with inhibitory control. SGs demonstrate promising improvements primarily in near-transfer.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Although the immediate benefits are evident in many cases, the transfer to untrained skills (far transfer) and the long-term effects remain limited and require further investigation. Motivation and engagement were often qualitatively inferred rather than directly measured. The effectiveness data were discussed in relation to the type of neurodevelopmental deficit.</p>","PeriodicalId":73074,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry","volume":"5 ","pages":"1801077"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13199227/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148038266","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}