Latest Research

Luby JL, Tillman R, Barch DM. JAMA Netw Open. Published online September 18, 20192(9):e1911426. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.11426 Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to be associated with later health problems.  This study demonstrates that the timing of ACEs can also be significant, with ACEs during preschool years being associated with reductions in the volume of some brain centres associated with emotional processing (the amygdala and hippocampus) and both ACEs and car...

Lai M, Kassee C, et al. The Lancet Psychiatry. Published: August 22, 2019DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30289-5 This review of 96 studies identifies pooled prevalence estimates of 28% (95% CI 25–32) for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; 20% (17–23) for anxiety disorders; 13% (9–17) for sleep–wake disorders; 12% (10–15) for disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders; 11% (9–13) for depressive disorders; 9% (7–10) for obsessive-compulsive disorder; 5% (3...

Lindsay A Taliaferro, Sung Tae Jang, Nicholas J Westers, et al.  Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Published online August 13, 2019. This study including data from over 119,000 students who participated in the 2016 Minnesota School Study found that parent and friendship connections were protective against non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI).  Ways of augmenting these supports during routine clinical therapy need to be identified in order to improve future management of NSSI. ...

Wyman, P. A., Pickering, T. A., Pisani, A. R., Rulison, K. , Schmeelk‐Cone, K. , Hartley, C. , Gould, M. , Caine, E. D., LoMurray, M. , Brown, C. H. and Valente, T. W. (2019). J Child Psychol Psychiatr, 60: 1065-1075 This study of over 10,000 students from 38 high schools found that school-wide peer and youth-adult connections were protective against suicide attempts.  Further work is needed to identify how schools can improve these connections, and to see if this reduces rates of suic...

Hudson, L. D. (2019). Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24(4), 658–660. As school-based mental health becomes more of a focus for prevention and early intervention, this paper outlines the long-term plans of the British National Health Service (NHS) to improve the range of services available to students in the UK.  Ensuring quality of interventions, outcome measurement and linkage with existing community mental health services will be key to its success. https://doi.org/10...

Cuijlits, I, de Wetering, AP, Endendijk, JJ, Baar, AL, Potharst, ES, Pop, VJM. Infant Ment Health J. 2019; 1– 16. This study of almost 800 participants found that partner support and engagement with foetal movements were protective against suboptimal prenatal and postnatal bonding.  Higher maternal education was a risk factor for suboptimal prenatal bonding and maternal depressive symptoms were a risk factor for suboptimal postnatal bonding. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21811

Skeen S, Laurenzi CA, Gordon SL, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Aug;144(2). pii: e20183488. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3488. Epub 2019 Jul 1. Given the wide variety of universal and targeted interventions for addressing adolescent mental health, a frequently asked question is “what active components of these approaches are the most effective?”. This review of 158 studies found that three program components, namely interpersonal skill training, emotion regulation and alcohol and drug education had po...

Barnes, J, Theule, J. Infant Ment Health J 2019; 1– 16. This review of 42 studies shows that maternal depression doubles the risk of non-secure infant attachment, highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention by maternal health services. https://doi.org/10.1002/21812

Glenn, C. R., Kleiman, E. M., Kellerman, J. , Pollak, O. , Cha, C. B., Esposito, E. C., Porter, A. C., Wyman, P. A. and Boatman, A. E. (2019). J Child Psychol Psychiatr. This review provides an up-to-date snapshot of worldwide adolescent suicide rates.  Estonia, New Zealand and Uzbekistan lead the pack. https://doi:10.1111/jcpp.13106

Barker MM, Beresford B, Bland M, Fraser LK. JAMA Pediatr. Published online July 08, 2019173(9):835–844. This systematic review quantifies the risk of anxiety and depression among children, adolescents and young adults with life-limiting conditions. Analysis of the results of 19 studies of anxiety showed a pooled prevalence of 19.1% and 38 studies of depression showed a pooled prevalence of 14.3%. Rates of both conditions increased with age. https://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1712