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BackgroundElimination disorders are highly prevalent in childhood and often associated with clinically relevant comorbid psychological disorders. The aim of this study is to determine if, and to what extent, children with elimination disorders show higher internalizing and externalizing problems than their healthy peers.MethodsA multistep literature search was performed from database inception until May 1st, 2022. PRISMA/MOOSE‐compliant systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42022303555) were used to identify studies reporting on internalizing and/or externalizing symptoms in children with an elimination disorder and a healthy control (HC) group. First, a systematic review was provided. Second, where data allowed for it, a quantitative meta‐analysis with random effects model was conducted to analyze the differences between the elimination disorder and the HC groups for internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Effect size was standardized mean difference. Meta‐regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of sex, age, and study quality. Funnel plots were used to detect a publication bias. Where found, the trim and fill method was used to correct it.Results36 articles were included, 32 of them reporting on enuresis (n = 3244; mean age = 9.4; SD = 3.4; 43.84% female) and 7 of them on encopresis (n = 214; mean age = 8.6; SD = 2.3; 36.24% female). Children with an elimination disorder presented significantly lower self‐concept (ES:0.42; 95%CI [0.08; 9.76]; p = 0.017) and higher symptom scores for thought problems (ES:−0.26; 95%CI: −0.43;−0.09]; p = 0.003), externalizing symptoms (ES: −0.20; 95%CI [−0.37;−0.03]; p = 0.020), attention problems (ES:−0.37; 95%CI [−0.51;−0.22]; p = 0.0001), aggressive behavior (ES:−0.33; 95%CI [−0.62;−0.04]; p = 0.025) and social problems (ES:−0.39; 95%CI [−0.58;−0.21]; p = 0.0001). Significant publication biases were found across several of the studied domains. No significant effect of sex, age or quality of the study score was found.ConclusionsChildren with an elimination disorder may have significant internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as impaired self‐concept. It is recommendable to screen for them in children with enuresis or encopresis and provide appropriate interventions.

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Clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR-P) population has become an attractive area of interest in preventing transitions to psychosis. The consequences of developing a psychotic disorder may be worse in cases of early onset. Thus, childhood and adolescence represent a critical developmental window, where opportunities to gain social and adaptive abilities depend on the individuals’ neurocognitive performance. There have been previous syntheses of the evidence regarding neurocognitive functioning in CHR-P individuals and its longitudinal changes. However, there has been less focus on children and adolescents at CHR-P. A multistep literature search was performed from database inception until July 15th, 2022. PRIMSA/MOOSE compliant systematic review and PROSPERO protocol were used to identify studies reporting on longitudinal changes in neurocognitive functioning in children and adolescents (mean age of sample ≤ 18 years) at CHR-P and matched healthy control (HC) group. A systematic review of identified studies was then undertaken. Three articles were included, resulting in a total sample size of 151 CHR-P patients [mean (SD) age, 16.48 (2.41) years; 32.45% female] and 64 HC individuals [mean (SD) age, 16.79 (2.38) years; 42.18% female]. CHR-P individuals had worse outcomes in verbal learning, sustained attention and executive functioning domains compared to HC. Individuals taking antidepressants had better outcomes in verbal learning in contrast with those taking antipsychotics. In children and adolescents, neurocognition may be already impaired before the psychosis onset, and remains stable during the transition to psychosis. Further study should be performed to obtain more robust evidence.