Latest Research

This study highlights the value of methylphenidate for improving cognitive performance following traumatic brain injury associated with secondary attention problems. The medication was associated with significant improvements in processing speed, sustained attention, and both lab-based and everyday executive functioning. Just because a child has not had a previous history of ADHD does not mean it’s not worth a trial of stimulant medication. LeBlond E, Smith-Paine J, Riemersma JJ, et al. J I...

Asarnow, J. R. and Mehlum, L. (2019). J Child Psychol Psychiatr, 60: 1046-1054. This review by two of the key researchers in the field summarises current evidence on what is likely to work to prevent youth suicide.  Brief screening and intervention using dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) are favoured by the evidence. https://doi:10.1111/jcpp.13130

Mavranezouli, I. , Megnin‐Viggars, O. , Daly, C. , Dias, S. , Stockton, S. , Meiser‐Stedman, R. , Trickey, D. and Pilling, S. (2019), J Child Psychol Psychiatr. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13094 Similar to recent reviews of this topic, this large network meta-analysis of 32 trials of over 2200 participants found that trauma-focussed cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT) was mot effective for the treatment of adolescent PTSD.  Other therapies such as EMDR and child/parent psychotherapy had limite...

Rienecke, R. D., Drayton, A., Richmond, R. L., & Mammel, K. A. (2019). Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104519864129 Being a relatively new DSM-5 diagnosis, avoidant and restricting feeding and intake disorder (ARFID) has not been well studied and is usually managed in similar manner to better known eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.  This paper outlines three sub-types of ARFID and their management and is likely to be of interest to eatin...

Koyanagi, Ai et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 58, Issue 9, 907 - 918.e4 This paper from the Global School-based Student Health Survey of over 130,000 adolescents found that bullying was associated significantly higher risk of suicide attempts (odds ratio 3.06), highlighting the significance of anti-bullying interventions. https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(19)30209-6/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Butwicka A, Olén O, Larsson H, et al. JAMA Pediatr. Published online August 19, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.2662 This study of over 6000 young Swedish adolescents found increased rates of most psychiatric problems (hazard ratio 1.6), including suicide attempts (hazard ratio 1.4), supporting the case for long-term psychological support and regular screening for this group. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2748635?guestAccessKey=e5d34641-58a0-4f39-8...

Partially replicating the findings of Dawson et al.’s 2010 study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model for early intervention with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Significantly improved language in the ESDM group was countered by a lack of difference between groups in terms of autism severity, adaptive behaviour and developmental quotient. https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(19)30044-9/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

McInnis, P. M., Braund, T. A., Chua, Z. K., & Kozlowska, K. (2019).  Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104519864994 This study of 35 children and adolescents with chronic pain found that, compared to two groups of age and sex matched controls, they had greater levels of psychological distress, autonomic nervous system activation, lower heart rate variability and upward shift of c-reactive protein (inflammatory marker in the blood) titres.  The...

Hunna J. Watson, Zeynep Yilmaz, […]Cynthia M. Bulik. Nature Geneticsvolume 51, pages1207–1214 (2019) This large genome-wide association study of over 18,000 individuals with anorexia and over 55,000 controls identified eight significant loci that support the diagnosis as being a metabo-psychiatric disorder.  The authors postulate that better identifying and modifying the metabolic components related to these genes may improve outcomes for people with anorexia. https://www.natu...

Sultan RS, Wang S, Crystal S, Olfson M. JAMA Netw Open. Published online July 26, 20192(7):e197850. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.7850 This retrospective study of over 180,000 young people found that 2.6% of those diagnosed with ADHD were prescribed antipsychotic medications.  This subgroup was more likely to have diagnoses of oppositional defiant disorder, substance use disorders and episodes of self-harm and/or suicidal ideation.  They were also more likely to receive inpatient...