In our study, the high prevalence of strabismus can not be attributed to the presence of hyperopia. Our data show no association between refraction and strabismus in children with DS. Oblique astigmatism has been found to be the most common type of astigmatism in our study group.

The incidence of refractive errors in Macedonian children and young adults with DS was similar to that in Asian children. Compared with White (Caucasian) and Asian children with DS, Macedonian children and young adults exhibited lower incidences of hypermetropia and myopia, and a higher incidence of astigmatism, in which oblique astigmatism represented the predominant type.

Obitelji koje žive s poremećajem iz spektra autizma suočavaju se s mnogim izazovima koji ne utječu samo na dijete s tim poremećajem i njegov razvoj, već i na funkcioniranje obitelji i kvalitetu njezina života. Edukacija roditelja o poremećaju iz spektra autizma identificirana je kao prioritetna intervencija u području ove problematike, kako na nacionalnoj, tako i na međunarodnoj razini. Dok je, s jedne strane, literature o osposobljavanju (treningu) roditelja u okviru specifičnih terapijskih pristupa opsežna, pretragom baza podataka pronašli smo svega 12 članaka koji izvještavaju o istraživanjima edukacije roditelja. Ukupno gledajući, ta istraživanja pokazuju pozitivne učinke edukacije roditelja: ona može doprinjeti redukciji stresa i anksioznosti, boljem nošenju s teškoćama, poboljšanju interakcija i komunikacije između roditelja i djeteta, boljem razumijevanju poremećaja iz spektra autizma, učinkovitosti, povjerenju i poboljšanju kvalitete života roditelja. Razmatraju se četiri ključne teme: utjecaj, provedba, sadržaj i lokalna/kulturna sporna pitanja edukacije roditelja, a također i slabosti i teškoće zamijećene u dosadašnjim istraživanjima, kao i potreba za daljnjim istraživanjima na području ovih intervencija.

Parenting children with autism in countries with limited professional and financial resources can be overwhelming. Parent training led by non-governmental organizations may help alleviate some of these burdens. The present pilot study was conducted in the Republic of Macedonia, a country located in Southeastern Europe. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a parent training model for disseminating evidence-based practices through didactic and pyramidal training strategies. Results indicated that children improved on a number of different behaviors and results provide some evidence that parenting confidence and distress improved.

Objective: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) syndrome is associated with depression and anxiety. This study aimed to examine for the first time the correlation between personality traits, situational anxiety, and stress in Polish patients with SIBO. Methodology: This study included 26 patients with SIBO aged 20–35 years and 24 non-SIBO patients aged 20–35 years. The following instruments were used: NEO-FFI Personality Inventory, KPS Sense of Stress Questionnaire, and the anxiety-state subscale from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Compared to the non-SIBO subgroup, SIBO patients expressed specific patterns of personality traits: higher neuroticism, lower extroversion, and a higher state of anxiety and stress. Unlike the non-SIBO subgroup, stress (total emotional tension, external, and intrapsychic) correlated negatively only with extroversion. Conclusions: Personality is the primary regulator of experience and behavior. The specificity captured in the research is a premise for an in-depth study considering various psychological variables to determine cause-effect relationships.