Feature Papers on Child Developmental Disorders and Neurology Research

A special issue of Pediatric Reports (ISSN 2036-7503).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1339

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
Interests: pediatric neurology; pediatric neurological and neurorehabilitative; epilettology

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Guest Editor
Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
Interests: pediatric neurology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Child developmental disorders and neurological conditions constitute a critical field of research, profoundly affecting cognitive, emotional, and social development across childhood. Although advances in neuroscience, genetics, and clinical interventions have expanded our understanding of these disorders, significant challenges remain in achieving early and accurate diagnosis, designing individualized treatment strategies, and ensuring effective long-term management. Many children present with co-occurring neurological and neuropsychological conditions, which further complicate diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment and tailored interventions. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that integrates biological, neurological, psychological, educational, and social perspectives, recognizing the complex interplay of factors that shape development.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue that aims to provide a comprehensive forum for high-quality research on the multifaceted nature of child developmental and neurological disorders. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the underlying neurobiological and genetic mechanisms, the identification and validation of biomarkers for early diagnosis, and the development of novel therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions. Additionally, studies on cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional outcomes, as well as longitudinal research assessing intervention efficacy and developmental trajectories, are highly encouraged. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among neuroscientists, clinicians, psychologists, and educators, this Special Issue seeks to advance both theoretical understanding and practical strategies to optimize outcomes for children affected by these complex conditions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Giovanni Battista Dell’Isola
Prof. Dr. Alberto Verrotti di Pianella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • pediatric neurology
  • therapy and rehabilitation
  • holistic care
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1371 KB  
Article
A Clinical Prediction Model for Genetic Risk in Children with GDD/ID: A Retrospective Study
by Yunshu Jiang, Ran Chen, Mengyin Chen, Luting Peng, Yuchen Zhao, Rong Li and Xiaonan Li
Pediatr. Rep. 2026, 18(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric18010001 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Objectives: Global Developmental Delay (GDD) and Intellectual Disability (ID) are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders with significant disability burden, and genetic factors play a crucial role in their etiology. This study aimed to develop and validate a clinical prediction model for identifying children with GDD/ID [...] Read more.
Objectives: Global Developmental Delay (GDD) and Intellectual Disability (ID) are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders with significant disability burden, and genetic factors play a crucial role in their etiology. This study aimed to develop and validate a clinical prediction model for identifying children with GDD/ID at high genetic risk, facilitating targeted genetic testing. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of children with GDD/ID treated at Nanjing Children’s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. Children with comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were excluded. The dataset was randomly split into training and validation sets (7:3 ratio). Lasso regression was used to identify potential predictive factors for positive genetic test results, followed by multivariable logistic regression to select independent predictors, which were incorporated into a nomogram. Model performance was evaluated by discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility using decision curve analysis in both sets. Results: Four independent predictors—craniofacial abnormalities, visceral abnormalities, physical growth abnormalities, and family history of ID—were identified. The resulting nomogram demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.734., with good calibration and positive net benefit on decision curve analysis. Validation confirmed the reliability of the model. Conclusions: We developed a clinically applicable prediction model to identify high genetic risk among children with GDD/ID without ASD. This model may serve as a preliminary screening tool to assist clinicians in prioritizing genetic testing and improving diagnostic efficiency in clinical practice. Full article
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