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Brain Sciences
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Neurological Diseases in Children Series II
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Neurological Diseases in Children Series II

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurorehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 November 2021) | Viewed by 26785

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michele Roccella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: neurodevelopmental disorders; encephalopathies; epilepsies; neuromuscular diseases; sleep disorders; rare genetic syndromes; neuropsychological disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After the success of the first Special Issue "Neurological Diseases in Children" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci/special_issues/Neurological_diseases_children), I am pleased to announce a second Special Issue. This issue is aimed at all professionals dealing with neurological disorders during the developmental age: developmental neurologists, pharmacologists, psychologists, developmental psychiatrists. This Special Issue, like the first, aims to collect a series of studies and research on neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular on the recent discoveries concerning their etiopathogenesis and therapeutic treatment. Epilepsies in childhood and the new discoveries concerning the genes that cause them will also be studied. Other topics of interest for this second Special Issue are neuromuscular diseases and rare genetic syndromes. The issue also addresses new drug treatments that are used in the treatment of neurological disorders during the developmental age.

Prof. Dr. Michele Roccella
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 160 KiB  
Editorial
New Advances in Neuropsychiatric Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
by Michele Roccella and Luigi Vetri
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(3), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12030399 - 16 Mar 2022
Viewed by 1454
Abstract
Neurological and psychiatric disorders during developmental ages affect an increasing share of the pediatric population, both due to the increased understanding and attention paid to these issues and due to increased risk factors [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)

Research

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9 pages, 260 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Neuro-Psychomotor Approach in Children Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Multicenter Study in Italian Pediatric Population
by Mariarosaria Caliendo, Anna Di Sessa, Elisa D’Alterio, Alessandro Frolli, Domenico Verde, Diego Iacono, Palmira Romano, Luigi Vetri and Marco Carotenuto
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091210 - 14 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3324
Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and reciprocal communication. ASD affects about 1% of the general population and is associated with substantial disability and economic loss. A variety of approaches to improve the core deficits and lives [...] Read more.
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and reciprocal communication. ASD affects about 1% of the general population and is associated with substantial disability and economic loss. A variety of approaches to improve the core deficits and lives of people with ASD have been developed, including behavioral, developmental, educational, and medical interventions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a neuro-psychomotor approach in children affected by ASD. Methods: The sample consisted of 84 children (66 males, mean age 56.9 ± 15.8 months) affected by ASD assessed between September 2020 to March 2021. The trained therapist was asked to complete the ASD behavior inventory (ASDBI) test at baseline (T0) (September 2020) and after six months (T1) (March 2021) to assess the child’s evolution over the observational period. The study was carried out in southern Italy (Campania Region). Results: ASD children showed a significant improvement for AUTISM composite after 6 months of neuro-psychomotor treatment (T1) compared to baseline (65.4 ± 12.2 vs. 75.8 ± 11.5, p < 0.0001). In particular, significant changes were observed for such domains as the problems of excitability (ECCIT), aggression (AGG), behaviors in social relations (RELSOC), expressive (all p < 0.001), sense/perceptual contact modes (SENS) (p = 0.0007), ritualisms/resistance to changes (RIT) (p = 0.0002), pragmatic/social problems (PPSOC) (p = 0.0009), specific fears (FEARS) (p = 0.01), and learning and memory (AMLR) (p = 0.0007). No differences for the domains Semantic/pragmatic problems (PPSEM) and language (LESP) were found. Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest the usefulness of the neuro-psychomotor treatment in children with ASD. Although promising, these findings need to be tested further to better understand the long-term effects of this specific type of approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)
10 pages, 257 KiB  
Article
Neuropsychological Profile, Emotional/Behavioral Problems, and Parental Stress in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
by Francesca Felicia Operto, Daniela Smirni, Chiara Scuoppo, Chiara Padovano, Valentina Vivenzio, Giuseppe Quatrosi, Marco Carotenuto, Francesco Precenzano and Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050584 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 4885
Abstract
Background: The aim of our study was to trace a specific neuropsychological profile, to investigate emotional-behavioral problems and parental stress in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1/High functioning (ASD-HF), Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) disorders and to highlight [...] Read more.
Background: The aim of our study was to trace a specific neuropsychological profile, to investigate emotional-behavioral problems and parental stress in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1/High functioning (ASD-HF), Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) disorders and to highlight similarities and differences among the three groups. Methods: We retrospectively collected the data from a total of 62 subjects with ASD-HF (n = 19) ADHD (n = 21), SLD (n = 22) and 20 typical development. All the participants underwent neuropsychological standardized test for the evaluation of cognitive profile (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition—WISC-IV), behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior CheckList CBCL), and parental stress (Parental Stress Index Short Form—PSI-SF). The scores of the ASD-HF, ADHD, and SLD groups were compared using non-parametric statistic methods (Kruskall–Wallis H test and U Mann–Whitney for post-hoc analysis). Results: The ASD-HF group were significantly higher in all areas of the WISC-IV than the other two clinical groups. The SLD group performed significantly lower than ASD-HF in Working Memory Index. The SLD group showed lower scores on the somatic problems subscale than the other two groups. In the Difficult Child subscale of the PSI-SF, parents of ADHD children scored lower than the mothers of SLD subjects and higher than the fathers of SLD subjects. In all three groups there are specific deficiencies compared to the control group in the cognitive profile, behavioral and emotional problems, and parental stress. Conclusions: Our comparative analysis highlighted similarities and differences in three groups of children with different neurodevelopmental disorders, helping to better define cognitive, behavioral, and emotional characteristics of these children and parental stress of their parents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)
12 pages, 1100 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Sensory Alterations and Repetitive Behaviours in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Parents’ Questionnaire Based Study
by Anna Fetta, Elisa Carati, Laura Moneti, Veronica Pignataro, Marida Angotti, Maria Chiara Bardasi, Duccio Maria Cordelli, Emilio Franzoni and Antonia Parmeggiani
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040484 - 11 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4324
Abstract
The relationship between sensory profile and repetitive behaviours in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has long been known. However, there is no consensus on the type of relationship that exists between them. This monocentric retrospective–prospective observational study aimed (a) to detect a clinical correlation [...] Read more.
The relationship between sensory profile and repetitive behaviours in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has long been known. However, there is no consensus on the type of relationship that exists between them. This monocentric retrospective–prospective observational study aimed (a) to detect a clinical correlation between the severity of repetitive behaviours and the alterations of sensory profile in a sample of 50 children diagnosed with ASD; (b) to evaluate how different patterns of stereotypies and sensory alterations correlate with each other and with the main clinical–instrumental variables in the same sample. We enrolled 29 children in the retrospective phase of the study and 21 in the prospective phase. The Repetitive Behaviour Scale-Revised (RBS-R) and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) were administered to the caregivers, and clinical–instrumental data were collected. SSP and RBS-R total scores directly correlated with a high significance rate. Among the subscales, the strongest correlations involved “Visual/Auditory Sensitivity”, related to “Stereotyped Behaviour” and “Sameness Behaviour”. “Under-Responsive/Seeks Sensation” related to “Stereotyped Behaviour”. Sex and intellectual disability significantly influenced both the stereotypies and the sensory alterations of the examined population. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the relationship between sensory alterations and repetitive behaviours in ASD children by using direct medical observation and parent observation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)
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9 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
Phonic and Motor Stereotypies in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Video Analysis and Neurological Characterization
by Evamaria Lanzarini, Jacopo Pruccoli, Irene Grimandi, Chiara Spadoni, Marida Angotti, Veronica Pignataro, Leonardo Sacrato, Emilio Franzoni and Antonia Parmeggiani
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040431 - 28 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3724
Abstract
Stereotypies are among the core symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can cause significant clinical impairment. At present, phonic stereotypies in ASD have been scarcely explored. This study investigates the frequency, variability, and typologies of phonic and motor stereotypies in children with [...] Read more.
Stereotypies are among the core symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can cause significant clinical impairment. At present, phonic stereotypies in ASD have been scarcely explored. This study investigates the frequency, variability, and typologies of phonic and motor stereotypies in children with ASD and their association with clinical neurological variables. We examined 35 patients by recording standardized video sessions and administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2). Phonic stereotypies were present in 83.0% of the patients. The most prevalent subtypes were noncommunicative vocalizations (60.0%), single syllables (37.1%), and echolalic stereotypies (22.9%). Noncommunicative vocalizations were more frequent in nonverbal patients (OR = 4.629, p = 0.008), while echolalic stereotypies were more represented in verbal patients (OR = 0.279, p = 0.028). Patients with intellectual disability (ID) showed a higher number (F(1,26) = 9.406, p = 0.005) and variability (F(1,25) = 7.174, p = 0.013) of motor stereotypies, with a higher number (F(1,26) = 13.268, p = 0.005) and variability (F(1,26) = 9.490, p = 0.005) of stereotypies involving the head/trunk/shoulders category. Patients with guttural stereotypies showed a higher variability of total motor stereotypies (OR = 1.487, p = 0.032) and self-directed motor stereotypies (OR = 4.389, p = 0.042). These results, combined with a standardized video-analysis, document the frequency and variability of phonic stereotypies among children with ASD. Correlations between specific phonic stereotypies and verbal abilities should be investigated further. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)

Review

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12 pages, 560 KiB  
Review
SUNCT/SUNA in Pediatric Age: A Review of Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Options
by Carlo Alberto Cesaroni, Jacopo Pruccoli, Luca Bergonzini, Giuseppe Quatrosi, Luigi Vetri, Michele Roccella and Antonia Parmeggiani
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091252 - 21 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2314
Abstract
The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD3) defines Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks (SUNHA) as attacks of moderate or severe, strictly unilateral head pain lasting from seconds to minutes, occurring at least once a day and usually associated with prominent lacrimation [...] Read more.
The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD3) defines Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks (SUNHA) as attacks of moderate or severe, strictly unilateral head pain lasting from seconds to minutes, occurring at least once a day and usually associated with prominent lacrimation and redness of the ipsilateral eye. Two subtypes of SUNHA are identified: Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT) and Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial Autonomic symptoms (SUNA). These pathologies are infrequent in children and difficult to diagnose. The authors reviewed the existing literature on SUNCT and SUNA, especially in the developmental age, which describes the pathophysiology in detail and focuses on the therapeutic options available to date. SUNHA-type headaches must be considered on the one hand, for the possibility of the onset of forms secondary to underlying pathologies even of a neoplastic nature, and on the other hand, for the negative impact they can have on an individual’s quality of life, particularly in young patients. Until now, published cases suggest that no chronic variants occur in childhood and adolescents. In light of this evidence, the authors offer a review that may serve as a source to be drawn upon in the implementation of suitable treatments in children and adolescents suffering from these headaches, focusing on therapies that are non-invasive and as risk-free as possible for pediatric patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)
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9 pages, 380 KiB  
Review
Should Echolalia Be Considered a Phonic Stereotypy? A Narrative Review
by Jacopo Pruccoli, Chiara Spadoni, Alex Orsenigo and Antonia Parmeggiani
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070862 - 29 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5326
Abstract
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) defines echolalia as a pathological, parrotlike, and apparently senseless repetition (echoing) of a word or phrase just uttered by another person and classifies this condition among the “restrictive and repetitive behaviours” [...] Read more.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) defines echolalia as a pathological, parrotlike, and apparently senseless repetition (echoing) of a word or phrase just uttered by another person and classifies this condition among the “restrictive and repetitive behaviours” of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The authors reviewed the existing literature on echolalia and its role in the development of children with ASD. Current conceptualizations include echolalia among repetitive behaviors and stereotypies and thus interpret this symptom as lacking any communicative significance, with negative effects on learning and sensory processing. Echoic behaviors, however, have been described in neurotypical infants and children as having a substantial effect on the consequent development of language and communication. Relevant research has documented a functional role of echolalia in ASD children as well since it facilitates the acquisition of verbal competencies and affords a higher degree of semantic generalization. This developmental function could be restricted to specific contexts. Considering echolalia as stereotypy and treating it as a disturbing symptom could impair the development of ASD-specific learning and communication processes. In light of this evidence, the authors propose a different conceptualization of echolalia and suggest that this symptom be considered among atypical communication patterns in children with ASD, with implications for treatment and prognosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Diseases in Children Series II)
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