Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in youth mental health services, including clinical decision support, risk prediction, and digital therapeutics. However, existing frameworks provide limited guidance for integrating ethical, cultural, and relational considerations into the design, governance, and implementation of AI-enabled mental health technologies. This scoping review examined how digital humanities-informed approaches have been incorporated into AI-supported mental health interventions for children and adolescents.

A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 was searched using PubMed and supplemented by semantic searches through Elicit. Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and meta-analyses examining AI-enabled digital mental health interventions and digital humanities perspectives were included. Data were synthesized using inductive thematic analysis.

Seventeen review-level studies met the inclusion criteria. Six recurring themes were identified: engagement, participatory co-design, human oversight, equity, ethical governance, and implementation. Across the included reviews, humanities-informed approaches were associated with greater attention to relational engagement, stakeholder participation, transparency, contextual adaptation, and culturally responsive implementation. Evidence supporting intervention effectiveness was strongest in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, whereas findings related to ethics, governance, equity, and implementation were derived primarily from scoping reviews and conceptual syntheses.

This review suggests that digital humanities provides a valuable interdisciplinary perspective for informing the design, governance, and implementation of AI-enabled youth mental health interventions. Although the current evidence base remains heterogeneous, integrating humanities-informed approaches may support the development of AI systems that are more ethical, equitable, and developmentally responsive. Future research should evaluate these approaches through empirical implementation studies and emerging generative AI applications.

Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are at increased risk of emotional distress, yet little is known about the immediate psychological impact of receiving the diagnosis itself. This study aimed to evaluate short-term changes in self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and stress before and after AIS diagnosis, and in the early post-diagnostic period.

In this cohort study, 179 adolescents (10-18 years) referred for suspected AIS completed the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21) before clinical and radiographic assessment (T1). Based on clinical findings and Cobb angle measurements, participants were classified as having mild scoliosis (Cobb angle > 10°, <20°) managed with observation alone (Group A, n = 30), moderate/severe scoliosis (Cobb angle > 20°), candidates for bracing treatment (Group B, n = 30), or no scoliosis (Group C, n = 119). Adolescents with scoliosis (Groups A and B) repeated the questionnaires immediately after diagnosis and treatment recommendations (T2). Group B completed a third assessment 1-2 months after initial examination (T3).

At baseline, RSES and DASS 21 scores did not differ significantly between groups. Following diagnostic disclosure, Group A showed a significant decline in self-esteem, while both groups showed increases in stress, anxiety, and depression. In Group B, reassessed at T3, stress and anxiety decreased, whereas depression remained elevated relative to baseline.

AIS diagnosis was associated with a self-esteem decline that followed a pattern dependent on curve severity, with an immediate drop in mild AIS (Group A) versus a delayed decline emerging one to two months later in moderate/severe cases (Group B). Anxiety and depressive symptoms increased significantly in both groups, while stress increased significantly only in those with moderate/severe scoliosis (Group B). Routine screening of mental health after AIS diagnosis, alongside interdisciplinary care involving mental health professionals, may help identify vulnerable patients and enable timely psychosocial support.

Background: Disruptive classroom behaviour remains a persistent challenge for teachers, peers, and students alike. Mentalization-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promise in addressing such behaviour, yet research has predominantly focused on student-centred or school-wide approaches, leaving teacher-centred applications underexplored. Aims: This study investigated (1) whether teachers' use of MBIs during incidents of disruptive behaviour was associated with incident resolution, and whether this varied by severity, and (2) how MBIs were enacted in naturalistic classroom settings. Methods: Interactions between students and teachers were observed across two classrooms in a London-based alternative provision school, yielding 259 documented incidents of disruptive behaviour and 815 coded teacher-student interaction sequences-the primary unit of analysis. Teacher responses were coded for six predefined MBIs (including Mentalization; shifting focus to underlying mental states, and Playing with reality; encouraging flexible perspectives through humour or playfulness), using a validated scheme with high inter-rater agreement across all coding dimensions (Cohen's κ > 0.75). Incident outcomes (resolved vs. unresolved) served as the dependent variable, with severity as a moderator. Thematic analysis of classroom dialogue characterised how MBIs were enacted in practice. Results: Several MBIs were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of incident resolution, while others were less effective. Only one intervention pairing-the simultaneous use of Mentalization and Playing with reality-showed a tentative synergistic association which should be treated as exploratory. Robust additive effects were observed across incident severity. Qualitative analyses highlighted how MBIs were delivered, including differences in tone, style, and strategy. Conclusions: In this naturalistic observational study, teachers' use of MBIs was associated with the resolution of disruptive behaviour in classrooms. These findings extend understanding of how MBT principles can be translated into educational contexts and provide preliminary evidence to inform future research on teacher-centred MBIs, which will require controlled designs before programme development.

Chronic dermatological diseases that appear in adolescence, such as acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata and psoriasis vulgaris, not only cause physical symptoms but also significantly affect young people's quality of life, mental state, self-esteem and social relationships. Social media, especially information spread by influencers, significantly influences adolescents' body image, health-related attitudes and even the quality of the physician-patient relationship. The aim of our study was to explore the relationships between dermatology-related quality of life, media use, health values, body image and self-esteem among adolescents with chronic dermatological diseases.

In our cross-sectional, quantitative study, we used validated questionnaires (DLQI, EQ-5D-5L, IRVS, Attitude Scale, STAI-Y2, SWLS-H, Rosenberg Scale, BAT), which we supplemented with a media consumption questionnaire of our own design. Structured data collection took place between October 2024 and March 2025, with the participation of 208 adolescents aged 11-18. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 (Spearman's correlation, Mann-Whitney test). Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Ethical approval: BM/22429-1/2024.

Acne vulgaris was the most common diagnosis (65%), followed by atopic dermatitis (22%) and psoriasis (11%). Over a quarter of the adolescents (27%) followed influencers who provided skincare advice. The mean daily screen time was 4.5 h, with 3.7 h on smartphones. A longer screen time was significantly correlated with poorer dermatological quality of life. Greater dermatology-related quality of life impairment (higher DLQI scores) was associated with poorer general quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Following skincare-related influencers was significantly associated with dermatology-related quality of life and anxiety. Conversely, stronger health values were significantly linked to more favourable health behaviors.

In this sample, greater dermatology-related quality-of-life impairment was associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. Longer screen time was associated with poorer dermatology-related quality of life and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. The novelty of our study lies in the use of a self-developed media consumption questionnaire, which is suitable for the complex mapping of psychological and quality-of-life factors in adolescents.

Introduction: The widespread use of digital devices has significantly increased screen time among children and adolescents, raising concerns about its effects on dietary behaviors and health outcomes. This narrative review aimed to examine the relationship between screen exposure, unhealthy eating behaviors, and associated physical and mental health risks in pediatric populations. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, with the final search updated on 30 April 2026. Studies involving individuals aged 0-18 years were included if they investigated screen time, dietary behaviors, obesity, cardiometabolic risk, sleep, or mental health outcomes. Observational studies, interventional studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were considered. Findings were synthesized qualitatively according to pre-specified thematic domains, with greater interpretive weight given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized trials, longitudinal cohorts, and large population-based studies. Results: Excessive screen time was consistently associated with unhealthy eating behaviors, including increased snacking, mindless eating, breakfast skipping, and higher consumption of ultra-processed and energy-dense foods. Digital food marketing and exposure to food advertising may influence children's food preferences and intake. High screen exposure was also associated with sedentary behavior, sleep disturbances, circadian dysregulation, and altered appetite-related hormones such as leptin and ghrelin. These pathways may contribute to, or be consistent with, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, although most evidence remains observational. Moreover, excessive screen use was associated with anxiety, depression, emotional eating, binge-eating behaviors, and body image dissatisfaction, particularly among adolescents. Conclusions: Screen time may represent a modifiable behavioral and environmental correlate of dietary habits, metabolic health, and psychological wellbeing in children and adolescents. Prevention strategies should focus not only on reducing screen duration but also on improving the quality and context of media use through family-based interventions, school programs, digital literacy, promotion of physical activity, and regulation of digital food marketing. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to clarify causal relationships and develop effective prevention strategies.

Introduction: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), conceptualized as disorders of gut-brain interaction, are among the most common chronic or recurrent conditions in childhood, affecting approximately 20-30% of children worldwide across community and clinical settings. FGIDs are associated with substantial impairments in quality of life, frequent school absences, and high levels of psychological comorbidity, contributing to a considerable burden for families and healthcare systems. Despite their high prevalence, the pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, with evidence pointing to a multifactorial interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Given their frequency across healthcare settings and their significant psychosocial and economic impact, a better characterization of FGIDs in real-world pediatric populations is needed. This retrospective chart review aimed to examine patterns of FGIDs and their associations with gender, temporal factors, geographic setting, and hospitalization burden in a Swiss pediatric cohort within a biopsychosocial framework. Methods: This retrospective chart review study included 1445 patients aged 0-18 years. Patients were selected based on having received an ICD-10 diagnosis attributed to FGID. The frequency and distribution of the aforementioned factors were determined, as well as their associations with each other. Results: A male predominance of FGIDs in newborns (p < 0.001), a female predominance in adolescents (p < 0.001), and sex-based differences in subtype distribution (p < 0.001) was found in this cohort of patients. A higher proportion of FGID cases were found among children in urban areas than in rural and suburban areas. Infants were hospitalized for significantly longer periods on average than older children and males were hospitalized for longer periods on average than females. Discussion and Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of early, integrated, interdisciplinary care pathways. Given the growing mental health issues affecting adolescent girls and the well-documented bidirectional relationship between emotional stress and FGID symptoms, it is suggested that early psychological screening and family-based interventions could reduce the chronicity of symptoms, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and improve long-term health outcomes.

In recent years, there has been a growing concern regarding social media driving the decline of mental health, especially among adolescents. However, scientific consensus remains mixed, with many studies reporting only small or inconsistent associations.

This paper aims to present the latest and most influential findings in the field of social media, with a focus on understanding the impact it has on adolescents' mental health by looking at clinical versus non-clinical populations.

We conducted a comprehensive search through Scopus, looking for scientific articles and reviews published from January 2020 to March 2026 that include social media and adolescents with mental health conditions. We examined social media use patterns, affordances, mechanisms of impact, and clinical versus non-clinical populations.

There is limited literature comparing clinical versus non-clinical adolescent populations. Adolescents with mental health disorders spend more time online, teens with internalizing conditions report being more prone to social comparison and more sensitive to digital feedback, while those with externalizing conditions report a lack of control over how much time they spend on social media. Screen time alone is not sufficient to determine the impact on mental health. Among the features that might be associated with mental health problems are sharing personal content and scrolling through others' posts.

The impact of social media could be shaped by pre-existing vulnerabilities. There is a need for longitudinal study designs to test temporal associations and more research to cover the gap on clinical populations to develop better policies and interventions.

Beyond being one of the most widely prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes, metformin has been increasingly used during pregnancy for gestational diabetes and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. While it is considered safe for pregnancy and lactation, metformin is known to induce gut microbial changes in non-pregnant individuals with type 2 diabetes, and maternal and offspring microbial alterations are known to influence offspring development. Therefore, understanding whether metformin drives microbiota changes beyond the confounding effects of maternal hyperglycaemia holds significant implications for maternal-foetal health. In this study, non-diabetic C57BL/6 mouse dams received either control or metformin treatment (5 mg/mL) in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation. Microbial profiling from faecal samples of dams at gestational day 15 and offspring at 6 weeks of age was analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing and an R-based pipeline. Metformin positively restructured dominant taxa associated with healthy pregnancy in dams, while inducing broad taxonomic changes in males and Bacteroidetes-dominant shifts in female offspring. Overall, maternal metformin treatment promoted short-chain fatty acid-producing taxa while suppressing potentially opportunistic bacteria, without compromising community richness. Further studies are required to elucidate the functional mechanisms underlying these shifts and their long-term implications for maternal-foetal health.

Naturally derived psilocybin is widely used, yet its therapeutic potential, pharmacological distinctiveness and regulatory feasibility remain understudied. This review evaluates the potential of naturally derived psilocybin using a six-criterion framework to evaluate: (1) therapeutic benefit, (2) safety and tolerability, (3) pharmacological uniqueness vs. synthetic psilocybin, (4) identity and composition control, (5) dose precision and stability, and (6) ecological sustainability. This paper answers three key questions about naturally derived psilocybin: Does it show therapeutic potential? Does it differ from synthetic psilocybin? Can it meet medicinal standards? Findings suggest perceived therapeutic benefits from naturally derived psilocybin across mental health domains, though evidence of causal efficacy is mixed. Safety profiles are favorable but context-dependent, with risks in vulnerable populations. Some preliminary preclinical evidence indicates possible entourage effects, but human validation is lacking. Dose precision varies, with purified psilocybin being most reliable, followed by standardized extracts, alcoholic, aqueous, and whole biomass preparations. Scalable cultivation is feasible but faces sustainability challenges. Key gaps include a lack of controlled trials, longitudinal safety evaluations, and standardization. We provide a phased research roadmap, which proposes short-term studies to establish safety, mid-term mechanistic and standardization efforts, and long-term integration into therapeutic, cultural, and ecological systems. This review highlights the promise of naturally derived psilocybin but underscores the need for rigorous evidence to support regulatory acceptance and clinical use.

Dissociative symptoms arise in reaction to significant stress and are common in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We longitudinally investigated the course of dissociative symptoms in psychiatric patients over the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic situation (04/2020-05/2021). The group was separated into patients with relevant symptoms of PTSD at study start (Group 1: PTSDG) and those without (Group 2: noPTSDG), and we also employed a control group (Group 3: CG). Dissociative symptoms were tracked using the "Fragebogen zu Dissoziativen Symptomen" (FDS), an adapted and extended German version of the "Dissociative Experience Scale" (DES). Datasets of 93 participants were analyzed over up to three time periods. In addition, the regional incidence of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests (7di) and the intensity of non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) were included in multilevel linear models.

Patients reported stronger dissociative symptoms in the PTSDG than in the noPTSDG, while the CG showed the lowest symptom intensity. Importantly, regarding the course of symptoms over time, while public counts of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests had no influence, dissociative symptom severity was significantly impacted by the intensity of non-pharmacological interventions, particularly in the PTSDG and regarding depersonalization and derealization.

Patients with relevant symptoms of PTSD at study start suffered from intense dissociative symptoms over the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation, driven by non-pharmacological interventions. In a milder way, other psychiatric patients were also affected. The results underline the responsivity of these patient groups regarding social and political stress.