Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health, Psychiatry and Mental health
17
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Children’s Behavioral Development in Correlation with Postpartum Mental Health During Pandemic Period Arianna Capocasale, Luca Liberati, Danilo Buonsenso, Giulia Bersani, Michela Caprarelli, Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo, Ilaria Contaldo, Daniele Gemin, Giulia Giugno, Rosanna Mastricci, Ida Turrini, Chiara Veredice, Ilaria Lazzareschi Children, 2026 Background/Objectives: Maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and the COVID-19 pandemic have both been identified as potential risk factors for socioemotional difficulties in children. This study aimed to assess behavioral outcomes in young children born to mothers previously screened for postpartum depressive symptoms, comparing cohorts evaluated during and after the pandemic using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 1½–5). Methods: An observational follow-up cohort study was conducted on 52 mother–child dyads derived from a previously established maternal cohort screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Two cohorts were defined according to the child’s birth period: during-pandemic (January–April 2022) and post-pandemic (October–November 2023) groups. Behavioral outcomes were assessed using CBCL 1½–5. Group differences were tested using parametric or non-parametric methods for continuous variables and χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. Exploratory regression models and sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: Children assessed in the post-pandemic cohort showed a lower prevalence of non-normal internalizing scores than those assessed in the during-pandemic cohort, whereas externalizing outcomes and Total Problems did not significantly differ between groups. In exploratory models, a child’s age showed a near-significant association with internalizing outcomes, suggesting that developmental stage at assessment may have contributed to the observed cohort difference. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection at delivery was not associated with children’s behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible difference in internalizing behavioral profiles between children assessed in during-pandemic and post-pandemic cohorts. However, this pattern should be interpreted cautiously because the cohorts differed substantially in age at follow-up, and age-related factors may have affected symptom detectability. Continued longitudinal follow-up will be important to clarify whether the observed differences persist over time.
Epilepsy and Neurodevelopment Outcomes 24 Months after Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy and Predictive Factors of Post-neonatal Epilepsy Graziamaria Cicala, Ornella Ricca, Maria Picilli, Elisa Rolleri, Marco Perulli, Ilaria Contaldo, Chiara Veredice, Michela Quintiliani, Maria Luigia Gambardella, Ida Turrini, Elisa Pede, Domenico Marco Romeo, Patrizia Bergonzini, Licia Lugli, Domenica Immacolata Battaglia Neuropediatrics, 2026 This retrospective, dual-center Italian study assessed the incidence, electroclinical characteristics, and risk factors for post-neonatal epilepsy among neonates with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). The study aims to better define the long-term risk factors for developing epilepsy or neurodevelopmental issues. We included neonates with HIE who underwent TH. Neurological examination and general movements were assessed before and after TH. Amplified-integrated EEGs (aEEG) or polygraphic EEGs (pEEG) were performed within 6 hours of life; a pEEG was performed after TH (72 hours to 10 days) and at 3, 9 to 12, and 24 months, and then yearly. Brain MRI was conducted within 30 days. The 24-month developmental outcome was evaluated using Griffiths Mental Development Scales. The median follow-up duration was 48 months. Epilepsy was classified according to ILAE criteria. We enrolled 159 patients: 15 (9.4%) developed epilepsy. Nine (5.6%) had onset before 24 months; three of them developed infantile epileptic spasm syndrome (IESS). Seizure onset was after 24 months in 6/159 individuals (3.8%). At the last follow-up, all 15 patients had focal epilepsy. Global development was pathological in 11/15 (10/15 <2SD; 1/15 <1SD). Risk factors for post-neonatal epilepsy included: MRI lesions involving the basal ganglia and thalamus (p < 0.0001), severe HIE (p = 0.0008), and severe anomalies on the pEEG recorded pre-TH (p = 0.0032) and post-TH (p = 0.0071). Our study confirms that post-neonatal epilepsy is rare and generally well-controlled. MRI, HIE-3, and early pEEGs are key predictors. High-risk patients should be screened for IESS in the early months, and patients with electroclinical and neuroradiological risk factors should continue long-term neurological follow-up beyond 24 months.
Investigating Properties of Palmitoylethanolamide in Physiology and Disease: Far Beyond an Anti-Inflammatory Shield Chiara Veredice, Ida Turrini, Helena Pelanda, Ilaria Contaldo, Donato Rigante Diseases, 2026 Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) among N-acylethanolamides displays a noteworthy impact on different inflammatory conditions and promises to become a valuable anti-inflammatory tool that does not interfere with the cyclooxygenase pathway. Mounting evidence confirms the multi-dimensional PEA-mediated crosstalk between microglia and mast cells, which would open new therapeutic opportunities targeting a neuroimmune axis and influencing both health and disease. In particular, PEA acts as a preserver of cellular homeostasis by regulating microglia cell activity and inhibiting mast cell activation in the central nervous system. The improved bioavailability and efficacy of ultramicronized formulations of PEA reflect its ultimate usefulness for different clinical applications, including significantly relieving inflammation but also reducing the pro-inflammatory burden of complex patients with either neuropathies or non-neurologic afflictions. This review aims to comprehensively delineate the therapeutic potential of PEA beyond its mere indication for acute inflammation and to highlight PEA activity as a broad-spectrum pan-tissue protective agent through the results of different preclinical and also some clinical studies. Much more remains to be learned about further PEA mechanisms of action that regulate neuroinflammation, and additional studies will have to investigate the exact role of microglia and mast cells in inflammatory diseases.
Cognitive, Behavioral, and Learning Profiles of Children with Above-Average Cognitive Functioning: Insights from an Italian Clinical Sample D. Chieffo, V. Arcangeli, Valentina Delle Donne, Giulia Settimi, V. Massaroni, Angelica Marfoli, Monia Pellizzari, Ida Turrini, E. Marconi, Laura Monti, Federica Moriconi, D. Janiri, G. Sani, Eugenio Maria Mercuri Children, 2025 Background/Objectives: Children with above-average cognitive functioning often present complex developmental profiles, combining high cognitive potential with heterogeneous socio-emotional and learning trajectories. Although the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of giftedness have been widely studied in Anglophone countries, evidence remains limited in Southern Europe. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive, academic, and emotional–behavioral profiles of Italian children and adolescents with above-average cognitive functioning, using an inclusive, dimensional approach (IQ > 114). Methods: We analyzed a cross-sectional sample of 331 children and adolescents (ages 2.11–16.5 years), referred for clinical cognitive or behavioral evaluations. Participants were assessed using the WPPSI-III or WISC-IV for cognitive functioning, the MT battery for academic achievement, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for emotional and behavioral symptoms. Comparative and correlational analyses were performed across age, gender, and functional domains. A correction for multiple testing was applied using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. Results: Gifted participants showed strong verbal comprehension (mean VCI: preschoolers = 118; school-aged = 121) and relative weaknesses in working memory (WM = 106) and processing speed (PS = 109). Males outperformed females in perceptual reasoning (PR = 121 vs. 118; p = 0.032), while females scored higher in processing speed (112 vs. 106; p = 0.021). Difficulties in writing and arithmetic were observed in 47.3% and 41.8% of school-aged participants, respectively. Subclinical internalizing problems were common in preschool and school-aged groups (mean CBCL T = 56.2–56.7). Working memory negatively correlated with total behavioral problems (r = −0.13, p = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings confirm the heterogeneity of gifted profiles and underscore the need for personalized educational and psychological interventions to support both strengths and vulnerabilities in gifted children. Caution is warranted when interpreting these associations, given their modest effect sizes and the exploratory nature of the study.
Wernicke Encephalopathy Caused by Avoidance-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in a Child: A Case-Based Review Ida Turrini, Clotilde Guidetti, Ilaria Contaldo, Silvia Pulitanò, Donato Rigante, Chiara Veredice Diseases, 2024 Background: Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is an acute and potentially fatal neuropsychiatric disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency: its etiology and clinical presentation can be heterogeneous and arduously recognized, especially in children and adolescents. Case presentation: An 8-year-old girl arrived to the emergency room with ataxic gait, nystagmus, and mental confusion after a 10-day history of repeated severe vomiting; her recent clinical history was characterized by restricted nutrition due to a choking phobia, which caused substantial weight loss. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bilaterally increased T2 signal in the medial areas of the thalami and cerebral periaqueductal region. Diagnosis of WE based on clinical and neuroradiological findings was established and confirmed after labwork showing low serum thiamine. Following psychiatric evaluation, the patient was also diagnosed with avoidance-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which required starting cognitive behavioral therapy and introducing aripiprazole. The patient displayed improvement of the radiological findings after one month and complete resolution of her neurological symptoms and signs. Conclusions: Eating disorders like ARFID might forerun acute signs of WE; this possibility should be considered even in pediatric patients, especially when atypical neurological pictures or feeding issues come out.
The relationship between infectious agents and juvenile dermatomyositis: a narrative update from the pediatric perspective Chiara Sassetti, Claudia Borrelli, Martha Mazuy, Ida Turrini, Donato Rigante, Susanna Esposito Frontiers in Immunology, 2024 Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the most common inflammatory myopathy affecting children, being marked by chronic inflammation which mostly impacts on both skin and skeletal muscles; diagnostic criteria of JDM include an unforeseeable mixture of clinical features, while treatment modalities commonly require corticosteroids or immunosuppressant agents. Although the pathogenesis of JDM is not completely understood, several infectious triggers have been linked to its priming via anecdotal reports related to children. Pediatric cases of recent-onset JDM have been temporally associated to an infectious disease by the power of increased titers of circulating antibodies to a putative infectious agent, including parasites, and/or detectable viral RNA or bacterial DNA. With this narrative review we offer an update about JDM association with a host of infections, namely parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie virus, human immune deficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Toxoplasma gondii, as resulting from the medical literature. Few are the evidence-proved results addressing JDM as an unambiguous post-infectious disorder and available data specifically related to children are poor, highlighting the need of further research into the exploration between environmental cut-out factors and JDM.
Relationship and New Prospectives in Joint Hypermobility in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Data Domenico Marco Romeo, Marianna Moro, Mariangela Pezone, Ilaria Venezia, Federica Mirra, Margherita De Biase, Agnese Polo, Ida Turrini, Maria Rosaria Lala, Chiara Velli, Francesca Sini, Domenico Dragone, Eugenio Mercuri, Claudia Brogna Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2023 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and joint hypermobility (JH) are considered two different etiological and clinical entities that most often appear in childhood. Despite growing increased research showing a co-occurrence for both conditions, a link between them is rarely established in clinical settings, and the relationship between ASD and JH has not so far been completely investigated in all age groups of ASD children. This preliminary study examined a cohort of 67 non-syndromic ASD children aged 2–18 years (sex ratio M:F = 12:1) showing different degrees of cognitive impairment and autism severity, using the Beighton scale and its revised version. A total of 63% of ASD patients aged 2–4 years and 73% of ASD patients aged ≥5 years presented significant scores of hypermobility. No significant correlation was found comparing total laxity score and cognitive assessments and severity of autistic symptomatology (p > 0.05). The results suggest that JH could be considered as a clinical characteristic of ASD patients and it needs to be assessed in order to schedule a better rehabilitation program.
Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and Behavior Impairment: Comorbidity or Specific Profile? Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo, Valentina Arcangeli, Federica Moriconi, Angelica Marfoli, Federica Lino, Sofia Vannuccini, Elisa Marconi, Ida Turrini, Claudia Brogna, Chiara Veredice, Alessandro Antonietti, Gabriele Sani, Eugenio Maria Mercuri Children, 2023 Introduction: Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in perceiving and processing verbal and non-verbal information. It is usually accompanied by impaired academic skills leading to school dropout and emotional disturbances, resulting in significant distress and behavioral problems. Methods: A cognitive, academic, and emotional-behavioral assessment was performed at T0 and T1 in children and adolescents with SLD. Participants received psychotherapy and speech therapy treatment from T0 to T1. Results: In SLD, the most compromised cognitive functions were working memory and writing skills. An impact on academic abilities was found. Children and adolescents with SLD experience greater anxiety and depression levels compared to their control peers. Conclusions: SLD may adversely influence psychological well-being. To counteract such a consequence, more specific cognitive and academic skill-oriented strategies should be taken into consideration.
Body mass index in type 2 spinal muscular atrophy: a longitudinal study Gloria Ferrantini, Giorgia Coratti, Roberta Onesimo, Simona Lucibello, Sarah Bompard, Ida Turrini, Graziamaria Cicala, Michela Caprarelli, Maria Carmela Pera, Chiara Bravetti, Beatrice Berti, Valentina Giorgio, Claudio Bruno, Noemi Brolatti, Chiara Panicucci, Adele D’Amico, Antonella Longo, Chiara Leoni, Valeria A. Sansone, Emilio Albamonte, Sonia Messina, Maria Sframeli, Enrico Bertini, Marika Pane, Eugenio Mercuri, and European Journal of Pediatrics, 2022
Fighting autoinflammation in FIRES: The role of interleukins and early immunomodulation Marco Perulli, Gianpaolo Cicala, Ida Turrini, Elisa Musto, Michela Quintiliani, Maria Luigia Gambardella, Silvia Maria Pulitanò, Sarah Bompard, Susanna Staccioli, Laura Carmillo, Gabriele Di Sante, Francesco Ria, Chiara Veredice, Ilaria Contaldo, Domenica Battaglia Epilepsy and Behavior Reports, 2022
Sleep disorders in low-risk preschool very preterm children Domenico M. Romeo, Giuseppina Leo, Leonardo Lapenta, Daniela Leone, Ida Turrini, Claudia Brogna, Francesca Gallini, Francesco Cota, Giovanni Vento, Eugenio Mercuri Sleep Medicine, 2019
