Latest Research

Early attachment status can change in response to caregiver responsiveness, with only 36% of those classified with disorganised attachment at 1 year of age remaining so at 4 years of age. McIntosh, J. E., Opie, J., Greenwood, C. J., Booth, A., Tan, E., Painter, F., ... & ATPG3 MAC Lab and Consortium. (2023).. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcpp.13865?campaign=wolearlyview

Maternal-foetal relationship anxiety during second pregnancies is associated with reduced maternal warmth, but not infant attachment. MRFA is associated with maternal depression, relationship problems and insecure attachment with the first child. Volling, B. L., Tan, L., Rosenberg, L., & Bader, L. R. (2023). Infant Mental Health Journal.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/imhj.22060?campaign=woletoc

This review of 21 studies suggests encouraging evidence for yoga therapies in children, but recommends larger studies of better described or manualised interventions. Khunti, K., Boniface, S., Norris, E., De Oliveira, C. M., & Shelton, N. (2023).. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 28(3), 1217-1238. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13591045221136016

Evidence from 22 studies suggested positive effects on psychological sequelae of sexual abuse for child centred therapy (CCT) and trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT), but not eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, family therapy or psychodynamic therapy. Caro P, Turner W, Caldwell DM, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Jun 5;6(6):CD013361. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013361.pub2. (Systematic review) https://www.evidencealerts.com/Articles/AlertedArti...

While anectodally believed to be a bad thing, this systematic review identifies both positive and negative effects of viewing self-harm images online. Recommendations for assessment, management and research are provided. Susi, K., Glover‐Ford, F., Stewart, A., Knowles Bevis, R., & Hawton, K. (2023). Journal of child psychology and psychiatry. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcpp.13754?campaign=woletoc

Over a quarter of Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) youth in this study reported eating disordered behaviour, with similarities between transgender males and females.  Transgender females receiving gender affirming hormones reported a greater proportion of binge eating episodes. Kramer, R., Aarnio-Peterson, C. M., Conard, L. A., Lenz, K. R., & Matthews, A. (2023). Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13591045231184917 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/135910452...

This review of 11 studies explores how group-based interventions can be helpful for families of gender diverse youth. Lehmann, K., & Leavey, G. (2023). Systematic review: Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 13591045231169093. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/13591045231169093

Although traditionally developed for use with people experiencing suicidal ideation, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) may also be useful for addressing adolescent anger. Haktanir, A., Aydil, D., Baloğlu, M., & Kesici, Ş. (2023). Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 28(3), 1175-1191. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/13591045221148075

This practitioner review updates evidence on the presentation and treatment of psychosis and psychosis-like symptoms in children and adolescents Sunshine, A., & McClellan, J. (2023). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpp.13777?campaign=woletoc

While thorough assessment and careful management of ADHD remain important, are there new ways in which we can reduce the gap between service availability and demand from people of all ages? This review offers challenges and suggestions. Bisset, M., Brown, L. E., Bhide, S., Patel, P., Zendarski, N., Coghill, D., ... & Sciberras, E. (2023). Practitioner Review: It's time to bridge the gap–understanding the unmet needs of consumers with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder–a system...