Christine M Freitag
Biographic Data
| ID | 4442136 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christine M Freitag |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christine M |
| FAMILY NAME | Freitag |
| SIGNATURE | FREITAG C M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Goethe University Frankfurt |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9676-4782 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Attenuated selective attention during visual perspective taking in autism
BACKGROUND: Altered social cognition in autism may be influenced by difficulties in domain-general functions, such as selective attention. Here, we manipulated the requirement for selective attention during a visual perspective taking (VPT) task and used neurophysiological indices to delineate underlying mechanisms. METHODS: 43 autistic and 38 neurotypical children and youth completed a VPT paradigm. Participants' and an avatar's perspectives wer…
Psychoneuroendocrine stress response in female and male youth with major depressive disorder
BACKGROUND: Exposure to psychosocial stress is one of the strongest risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD) in youth, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous studies on the neuroendocrine stress response in youth with MDD are scarce, limited to cortisol, and rarely considered sex differences. Due to puberty-associated neuroendocrine transitions increasing the risk for MDD onset in adolescence, this study…
Complex, low‐intensity, individualised naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention in toddlers and pre‐schoolers with autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBI) may improve social communication in toddlers/pre-school aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we study efficacy of the low-intensity, complex NDBI 'Frankfurt Early Intervention Program for ASD' (A-FFIP) over 1 year by a confirmatory phase-III, prospective, randomised, controlled, parallel-group study with two treatment arms over four centres. METHODS: Main …
Capturing change in restricted and repetitive behaviour in preschoolers with ASD
BACKGROUND: Restricted and repetitive behaviour (RRB) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be assessed by different measures, which diverge in item quantity, dimensionality or source of information. However, change sensitivity has not been systematically investigated among commonly used measures, albeit its importance for clinical trials and longitudinal studies. METHODS: Longitudinal data resulting from behavioural observation (Autism Diagnosti…
Start Now
BACKGROUND: Conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) both convey a high risk for maladjustment later in life and are understudied in girls. Here, we aimed at confirming the efficacy of START NOW, a cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavior therapy-oriented skills training program aiming to enhance emotion regulation skills, interpersonal and psychosocial adjustment, adapted for female adolescents with CD or ODD. METHODS: A t…
Admission rates and clinical profiles of children and youth with eating disorders treated as inpatients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in a German university hospital
Introduction: Children and youth at risk for mental health disorders, such as eating disorders (ED), were particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet evidence for the most seriously affected and thus hospitalized youth in Germany is scarce. Methods: = 2,849) to the Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (DCAPPP) of a German University Hospital between 01/2016 and 02/2022. Absolute and relative num…
Linking heart rate variability to psychological health and brain structure in adolescents with and without conduct disorder
RSA was related to increased grey matter volume in the left insula across all subjects. Our results thus suggest that low RSA at rest might be a contributing or predisposing factor for potential self-regulation difficulties. Given the insula's role in both emotional and cognitive regulation processes, these brain structural differences might impact either of those
The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism
Sex differences in psychiatric comorbidity and clinical presentation in youths with conduct disorder
BACKGROUND: Conduct disorder (CD) rarely occurs alone but is typically accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders, which complicates the clinical presentation and treatment of affected youths. The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in comorbidity pattern in CD and to systematically explore the 'gender paradox' and 'delayed-onset pathway' hypotheses of female CD. METHODS: As part of the FemNAT-CD multisite study, semistructure…
Saccade dysmetria indicates attenuated visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by attenuated social attention. The underlying oculomotor function during visual exploration is understudied, whereas oculomotor function during restricted viewing suggested saccade dysmetria in ASD by altered pontocerebellar motor modulation. METHODS: Oculomotor function was recorded using remote eye tracking in 142 ASD participants and 142 matched neurotypical con…
Anxiety Is Associated With DPPIV Alterations in Children With Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Disorder
Background: Both selective mutism (SM) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are severe pediatric anxiety disorders with the common trait of behavioral inhibition (BI). The underlying pathophysiology of these disorders remains poorly understood, however converging evidence suggests that alterations in several peripheral molecular pathways might be involved. In a pilot study, we investigated alterations in plasma molecular markers (dipeptidyl peptidas…
Neuropsychological Subgroups of Emotion Processing in Youths With Conduct Disorder
Background: At the group level, youths with conduct disorder (CD) show deficient emotion processing across various tasks compared to typically developing controls (TDC). But little is known about neuropsychological subgroups within the CD population, the clinical correlates of emotion processing deficits [for instance, with regard to the presence or absence of the DSM-5 Limited Prosocial Emotions (LPE) specifier], and associated risk factors. Met…
Conduct disorder
Unmet Needs in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Fill the Gap? Promises and Ethical Challenges
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder most frequently diagnosed in children and adolescents. Although ADHD can be effectively treated with psychostimulants, a significant proportion of patients discontinue treatment because of adverse events or insufficient improvement of symptoms. In addition, cognitive abilities that are frequently impaired in ADHD are not directly targeted by medication. Therefore, additional treatment …
Friendship Quality in Youth With and Without Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Baseline autonomic nervous system activity in female children and adolescents with conduct disorder
Resting autonomic nervous system activity is unrelated to antisocial behaviour dimensions in adolescents
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning has long been studied in relation to antisocial behaviour, but relevant measures (heart rate, heart rate variability, pre-ejection period, respiration rate) have rarely been considered together. This study investigated the relationship between these measures and antisocial behaviour. Using a sample of 1010 youths with (47.8%) and without conduct disorder (52.2%) aged between 9 and 18 years (659 females, …
Migration background and juvenile mental health
INTRODUCTION: This article presents diagnostic rates for specific mental disorders in a German pediatric inpatient population over a period of 20 years with respect to migration background and socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: Diagnostic data were obtained over a period of 20 years from 8,904 patients who visited a child and adolescent psychiatry mental health service in Germany. Data from 5,985 diagnosed patients (ICD-9 and ICD-10 criteria) w…
Retrospective Assessment of Behavioral Inhibition in Infants and Toddlers
Balancing Accountability and Risk in Program Implementation
For most of the twentieth century, public land managers in the United States suppressed virtually all wildland fires. This suppression philosophy contributed to unhealthy ecosystems and allowed a dangerous buildup of burnable vegetation. As a result of generations of fire suppression, recent years have seen an increased incidence of catastrophic fires in American wildlands. Following some of the worst fire seasons in American history, representat…
Balancing Accountability and Risk in Program Implementation
For most of the twentieth century, public land managers in the United States suppressed virtually all wildland fires. This suppression philosophy contributed to unhealthy ecosystems and allowed a dangerous buildup of burnable vegetation. As a result of generations of fire suppression, recent years have seen an increased incidence of catastrophic fires in American wildlands. Following some of the worst fire seasons in American history, representat…
Baseline autonomic nervous system activity in female children and adolescents with conduct disorder
Balancing Accountability and Risk in Program Implementation
For most of the twentieth century, public land managers in the United States suppressed virtually all wildland fires. This suppression philosophy contributed to unhealthy ecosystems and allowed a dangerous buildup of burnable vegetation. As a result of generations of fire suppression, recent years have seen an increased incidence of catastrophic fires in American wildlands. Following some of the worst fire seasons in American history, representat…
Retrospective Assessment of Behavioral Inhibition in Infants and Toddlers
Migration background and juvenile mental health
INTRODUCTION: This article presents diagnostic rates for specific mental disorders in a German pediatric inpatient population over a period of 20 years with respect to migration background and socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: Diagnostic data were obtained over a period of 20 years from 8,904 patients who visited a child and adolescent psychiatry mental health service in Germany. Data from 5,985 diagnosed patients (ICD-9 and ICD-10 criteria) w…
Conduct disorder
Unmet Needs in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Fill the Gap? Promises and Ethical Challenges
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder most frequently diagnosed in children and adolescents. Although ADHD can be effectively treated with psychostimulants, a significant proportion of patients discontinue treatment because of adverse events or insufficient improvement of symptoms. In addition, cognitive abilities that are frequently impaired in ADHD are not directly targeted by medication. Therefore, additional treatment …
Friendship Quality in Youth With and Without Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Baseline autonomic nervous system activity in female children and adolescents with conduct disorder
Resting autonomic nervous system activity is unrelated to antisocial behaviour dimensions in adolescents
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning has long been studied in relation to antisocial behaviour, but relevant measures (heart rate, heart rate variability, pre-ejection period, respiration rate) have rarely been considered together. This study investigated the relationship between these measures and antisocial behaviour. Using a sample of 1010 youths with (47.8%) and without conduct disorder (52.2%) aged between 9 and 18 years (659 females, …
Neuropsychological Subgroups of Emotion Processing in Youths With Conduct Disorder
Background: At the group level, youths with conduct disorder (CD) show deficient emotion processing across various tasks compared to typically developing controls (TDC). But little is known about neuropsychological subgroups within the CD population, the clinical correlates of emotion processing deficits [for instance, with regard to the presence or absence of the DSM-5 Limited Prosocial Emotions (LPE) specifier], and associated risk factors. Met…
Saccade dysmetria indicates attenuated visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by attenuated social attention. The underlying oculomotor function during visual exploration is understudied, whereas oculomotor function during restricted viewing suggested saccade dysmetria in ASD by altered pontocerebellar motor modulation. METHODS: Oculomotor function was recorded using remote eye tracking in 142 ASD participants and 142 matched neurotypical con…
Anxiety Is Associated With DPPIV Alterations in Children With Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Disorder
Background: Both selective mutism (SM) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are severe pediatric anxiety disorders with the common trait of behavioral inhibition (BI). The underlying pathophysiology of these disorders remains poorly understood, however converging evidence suggests that alterations in several peripheral molecular pathways might be involved. In a pilot study, we investigated alterations in plasma molecular markers (dipeptidyl peptidas…
The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism
Sex differences in psychiatric comorbidity and clinical presentation in youths with conduct disorder
BACKGROUND: Conduct disorder (CD) rarely occurs alone but is typically accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders, which complicates the clinical presentation and treatment of affected youths. The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in comorbidity pattern in CD and to systematically explore the 'gender paradox' and 'delayed-onset pathway' hypotheses of female CD. METHODS: As part of the FemNAT-CD multisite study, semistructure…
Admission rates and clinical profiles of children and youth with eating disorders treated as inpatients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in a German university hospital
Introduction: Children and youth at risk for mental health disorders, such as eating disorders (ED), were particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet evidence for the most seriously affected and thus hospitalized youth in Germany is scarce. Methods: = 2,849) to the Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (DCAPPP) of a German University Hospital between 01/2016 and 02/2022. Absolute and relative num…
Linking heart rate variability to psychological health and brain structure in adolescents with and without conduct disorder
RSA was related to increased grey matter volume in the left insula across all subjects. Our results thus suggest that low RSA at rest might be a contributing or predisposing factor for potential self-regulation difficulties. Given the insula's role in both emotional and cognitive regulation processes, these brain structural differences might impact either of those
Start Now
BACKGROUND: Conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) both convey a high risk for maladjustment later in life and are understudied in girls. Here, we aimed at confirming the efficacy of START NOW, a cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavior therapy-oriented skills training program aiming to enhance emotion regulation skills, interpersonal and psychosocial adjustment, adapted for female adolescents with CD or ODD. METHODS: A t…
Psychoneuroendocrine stress response in female and male youth with major depressive disorder
BACKGROUND: Exposure to psychosocial stress is one of the strongest risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD) in youth, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous studies on the neuroendocrine stress response in youth with MDD are scarce, limited to cortisol, and rarely considered sex differences. Due to puberty-associated neuroendocrine transitions increasing the risk for MDD onset in adolescence, this study…
Complex, low‐intensity, individualised naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention in toddlers and pre‐schoolers with autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBI) may improve social communication in toddlers/pre-school aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we study efficacy of the low-intensity, complex NDBI 'Frankfurt Early Intervention Program for ASD' (A-FFIP) over 1 year by a confirmatory phase-III, prospective, randomised, controlled, parallel-group study with two treatment arms over four centres. METHODS: Main …
Capturing change in restricted and repetitive behaviour in preschoolers with ASD
BACKGROUND: Restricted and repetitive behaviour (RRB) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be assessed by different measures, which diverge in item quantity, dimensionality or source of information. However, change sensitivity has not been systematically investigated among commonly used measures, albeit its importance for clinical trials and longitudinal studies. METHODS: Longitudinal data resulting from behavioural observation (Autism Diagnosti…
Attenuated selective attention during visual perspective taking in autism
BACKGROUND: Altered social cognition in autism may be influenced by difficulties in domain-general functions, such as selective attention. Here, we manipulated the requirement for selective attention during a visual perspective taking (VPT) task and used neurophysiological indices to delineate underlying mechanisms. METHODS: 43 autistic and 38 neurotypical children and youth completed a VPT paradigm. Participants' and an avatar's perspectives wer…
Psychology (16 works) · Medicine (15 works) · Clinical Psychology (14 works) · Psychiatry (13 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (8 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works) · Internal Medicine (8 works) · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research (7 works) · Conduct disorder (7 works)