Introduction: There is still insufficient data whether problematic internet use (PIU) is linked with physical symptoms associated with mental disorders, particularly among student demographics.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine whether problematic internet use (PIU) in adults is associated with physical symptoms linked to mental disorders.

Methods: An anonymous online survey included the nine-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-9) to measure PIU and the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) to measure physical symptoms associated with mental disorders. Depression symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms with the seven-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. The study included 207 students (mean age: 23 ± 3 years, 83.6% women).

Results: Significant correlations were identified between PIUQ-9 scores and physical symptoms. Multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, and PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, revealed associations between PIU and physical symptoms: extremity/joint pain (β = 0.161, p = 0.019), sexual dysfunction (β = 0.145, p = 0.032), chest pain (β = 0.135, p = 0.047), and fatigue (β = 0.214, p = 0.005).

Conclusions: High levels of PIU in young adults were associated with physical symptoms linked to mental disorders irrespective of age, sex, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

(Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 57–65)

Keywords: internet addiction disorder, anxiety, depression, medically unexplained symptoms, mental disorders

Objective: This study aimed to adapt the Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment for Hungarian primary school children and to investigate its relationship with an ecologically valid executive function questionnaire and standard computer-based executive function tasks in the context of socioeconomic status.

 Methods: Our study included 17 children aged 8–12 years, of whom eleven children (64.7%) lived in a town in deep poverty with many families with low socioeconomic status, while the remaining six (35.3%) of the subjects lived in a city in Hungary. Participants completed standard executive function tasks (Go/No-Go, Corsi Block-Tapping Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task), as well as the adapted version of the Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment. In addition, 14 parents and 13 teachers completed the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory regarding the participating children.

Results: The Hungarian Children’s Kitchen Task demonstrated good interrater reliability (κ = .81) and acceptable internal consistency (α = .68). Performance on the task was found to be significantly related to both standard executive function tasks and the ecologically valid questionnaire. In terms of planning, children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds demonstrated poorer per-formance (t(15) = 2.87, p < .02, d = 0.13), yet they completed the task in a shorter amount of time than their peers with higher socioeconomic status (t(15) = -2.4, p < .02, d = 1.23).

 Conclusions: Executive functions measured in ecologically valid settings demonstrated convergence with other executive function assessment methods. Furthermore, our results suggest that socioeconomic status is related to children’s executive functions, especially when the executive functions are measured with tasks resembling more to everyday situations. Our findings have implications for interventions.

 (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 66–84)

 Keywords: executive functions, Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment, ecological validity, socioeconomic status

Background: Childhood trauma constitutes a major public health issue, as it is associated with enduring mental and physical health complications, as well as an increased risk for a range of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The Early Trauma Inventory Self Report–Short Form (ETISR-SF) is a concise and effective instrument for assessing early traumatic experiences. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and validate the Hungarian version of the ETISR-SF.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 300 psychiatric patients and 57 non-clinical control participants completed the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report–Short Form (ETISR-SF) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF).
Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original four-factor structure, yielding satisfactory model fit indices. The ETISR-SF demonstrated high internal consistency across all subscales (Cronbach’s α = 0.78–0.94). Significant differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups provided evidence of good discriminant validity. Correlations between the ETISR-SF and the CTQ-SF, both at the total and subscale levels, were significant and ranged from low to moderate (r = 0.22–0.71, p < 0.001), supporting the instrument’s convergent and divergent validity.
Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicate that the Hungarian version of the ETISR-SF is a psychometrically sound instrument, demonstrating validity and reliability for assessing early traumatic experiences in Hungarian clinical populations. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 85–101)
 
Keywords: Childhood trauma, Early Trauma Inventory, Validation study

Background: Neurodegeneration is accelerated by Type 2 diabetes mellitus through adipokine dysregulation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. This could link metabolic imbalance to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cognitive decline. The aim of this review is to clarify the roles of adipokines in type 2 diabetes-induced neurodegeneration, their molecular pathways, and the possible neuroprotective potential of antidiabetic agents.
Methods: Literature was searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus for English-language articles published up to November 2025, using keywords like adipokines, diabetes mellitus, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and antidiabetics.
Results: Results highlight those elevated levels of pro-inflammatory adipokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and resistin, together with reduced levels of neuroprotective adipokines, including adiponectin and leptin, may drive NF-kB activation, suppression of Nrf2 signaling, and amyloid and tau pathology. This is further exacerbated by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Antidiabetic agents like metformin, GLP-1 agonists, thiazolidinediones, and SGLT2 inhibitors restore adipokine balance, enhance AMPK/PPARγ signaling, and show cognitive benefits in mild cognitive impairment cohorts per clinical trials.
Discussion: In conclusion, repurposing antidiabetics via biomarker-guided multiple therapies offers disease-modifying promise for type 2 diabetes-linked neurodegeneration, necessitating large randomized controlled trials in prediabetic populations.
(Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 102–114)
 Keywords: Adipokines, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Neurodegeneration, Neuroinflammation, Antidiabetic agents

Background and Objective: This research examines the intersection of education and political systems, exploring how instructional practices align with neoliberal policies. Education is often viewed as a means to address societal issues such as unemployment and inequality; however, its emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, and ethical considerations may sometimes be overlooked. A shift toward fostering critical engagement and societal development could be beneficial.

Methods: Using a descriptive approach, this study retrieved articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Results: In Iran, the education system has undergone notable changes since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, primarily aligning with ideological objectives. While enrollment rates have increased, the system appears to face challenges such as outdated curricula, structural inefficiencies, centralized governance, and limitations in teacher training. Although reforms have aimed at reinforcing ideological priorities, their impact on fostering innovation and global competitiveness remains uncertain. Additionally, regional disparities and gender inequalities continue to be areas of concern. Key challenges may include an overreliance on rote learning, limited adoption of modern pedagogical methods, and insufficient coordination between research and policy implementation. Teacher motivation could also be affected by inadequate wages and institutional support, potentially influencing the overall quality of education. Furthermore, both teachers and students encounter barriers to accessing equitable and high-quality education, which may hinder educational progress. Psychological concerns among Iranian students appear to be rising, possibly due to academic stress, suboptimal educational environments, and family dynamics. Research suggests that supportive family and school settings may play a significant role in improving mental well-being, motivation, and self-perception. Adolescents, in particular, seem to benefit from strong familial bonds, which could positively impact their mental health and academic performance. Based on these findings, it may be advisable to consider reducing political influence in education, modernizing curricula, investing in teacher re-training, and integrating psychological support within schools. Decentralizing governance and fostering innovation could contribute to a more dynamic and responsive education system.

Conclusion: While Iran’s education system has made strides in enrollment, addressing these structural and pedagogical challenges could enhance its ability to prepare students for the demands of modern society while supporting their psychological and social well-being.

(Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 115–130)
Keywords: Educational, Iran, Psychology, current trends