Disorders of language, learning and the autism spectrum. Intellectual disability, epilepsy, neurological disorders, rare and developmental diseases, psychiatric disorders, depression and consequent self-harm and suicide attempts.
I neuropsychic disorders of developmental age they are extremely frequent and almost strike in Italy 2 millions of children and teenagers, between 10 and the 20% of the child and adolescent population among 0 and 17 years. With manifestations very different from each other in type, course and prognosis, for the most part determined by a complex interweaving of genetic predisposition, neurobiological vulnerability and environmental and social variables.
This is the scenario that sees the opening of the congress of the SINPIA – Italian Society of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, the first since the start of the pandemic and scheduled since November 3 to 6 entirely online to facilitate the participation of operators employed on the front line with what is considered by many to be the true long wave pandemic, the one that affects the neuropsychic health of children and young people.
Four days of congress in which they will participate in addition 500 child neuropsychiatrists, with 3 plenary sessions, 5 parallel sessions, 4 seminars and more than 80 between speakers and moderators which will address the most recent evolutions of knowledge in the field of neuroscience and the specificity of neuropsychic development in childhood and adolescence between genetics, neurobiology and the environment.
During the work of the Congress, welcomed by the presence of Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Elena Bonetti Family and greeted by a message from minister for Disability Erika Stefani, sessions will be dedicated to the progress of neurology of the developmental age towards precision medicine and the most recent personalized treatments, applied in particular toepilepsy of the child for a personalization of the therapeutic choice, to the treatment of movement disorders in developmental age and at muscle diseases, where the most advanced gene therapies, together with a personalized rehabilitation approach, are proving capable of significantly modifying the natural history of diseases previously considered incurable such as muscular dystrophy of Duchenne and thespinal muscular atrophy.
Various reports will also address the delicate issue of the impact that the Pandemic is having on the mental health of minors (with reports that will certify a worrying increase in the trend), and how to transform the responses of services to ensure more effective therapeutic interventions.
“Answers to the health needs of children and adolescents with neuropsychic disorders of the developmental age and their families – explains Antonella Costantino, president of SINPIA, Italian Society of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry – present very significant criticalities, with a large discrepancy between the right investment of resources on the physical health of children and the scarce investment in neuropsychic health, made even more dramatic by the effects of the pandemic. This is why adequate investment in mental health promotion and prevention e intervention in neuropsychic disorders of the developmental age is increasingly strategic. An early diagnosis and an equally early and timely intervention in synergy between the territory and the hospital it can change, in many cases, the natural history of neuropsychic disorders and prevent the numerous sequelae, avoiding a worsening and disabling course, significantly decreasing the emotional, social and economic costs on the individual, on the family and on society”.
In less than ten years the number of users followed in the services has doubled Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry (NPIA), with a prevalence of access 4 times higher to that of adult mental health services e 8 times higher to that of the services for pathological addictions. A noticeable growth trend to which the greater awareness of the population, the change in diagnostic criteria, the introduction of screening and early detection strategies, the increased survival of subjects with severe disabilities and the presence of significant and very significant environmental changes contribute rapid impact on development and on the expected level of functioning. But also, now, the impact of the pandemic and the restrictions and delays in accessing services resulting from it, especially in the most vulnerable groups.
However, there are still systemic and cultural criticalities that favor early diagnosis and timely intervention. Patients and their families are in fact still subject to marked prejudices, which interfere with diagnosis and therapy, with social inclusion and above all with health planning. Despite very significant changes in the sensitivity of the population, in fact, the tendency to deny the existence of neuropsychic disorders is unfortunately still very marked and has an impact on national and international policies.
“A few days ago the UNICEF-WHO alarm underlined that in the world, 1 out of 7 adolescents present mental health problems, worsened by the pandemic, and how the lack of contribution to economies due to the mental health problems they bring disability or death among young people is estimated at nearly $ 390 billion annually. Nonetheless, governments continue to invest too little to address these basic needs” conclude Antonella Costantino.