Latest Research

Centre for Suicide Prevention, Canada This Canadian resource offers up to date evidence-based advice on preventing suicide in transgender people. https://www.suicideinfo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CSP_Toolkit_Transgender_web.pdf

Dunning DL, Griffiths K, Kuyken W, et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. First published 22 October 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12980 As the evidence for mindfulness-based therapies increases, this review of 33 studies conducted before October 2017 demonstrates that these interventions can improve measures of mindfulness, anxiety and depression with small effect sizes (i.e. a positive, but modest effect). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12980

Madigan S, Browne D, Racine N, Mori C, Tough S.  JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 28, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056 This study demonstrates that higher levels of screen time at 24 and 36 months are significantly associated with poorer performance on developmental screening tests at 36 months. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2722666?guestAccessKey=82c43002-a836-45fc-bed4-e8331a06352d&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=ema...

Dawson G, Sapiro G. JAMA Pediatr. Published online February 04, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5269 Times are changing.  This article summarises the role of digital technologies for the detection and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Multiiple, precise behavioural measurement in a child’s natural environment may see more early and accurate identification of children with ASD. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2723528?guestAcces...

Maybery, D., Goodyear, M., Reupert, A., Sheen, J., Cann, W., O’Hanlon, B., & Cuff, R. (2019). Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518822676 This study provides some preliminary evidence for the effectivenss of an intervention called Let’s Talk About Children.  Both the treatment and control groups showed improvement in insight and family communication, suggesting that even basic psychoeducation (in the control group) may be useful for familie...

Golding P, Fitzgerald HE. Infant Ment Health J. 2019;40:5–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21753 This article summarises the evidence related to contemporary theories regarding the origins of violence in males.  An interesting read for those interested in conduct problems and those working in the youth forensic space. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/imhj.21753

Silk, Jennifer S. et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , Published online February 2019 This longitudinal study demonstrates that anxious children are more prone to later depression and that treatment of anxiety during childhood using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can reduce the likelihood of later depression. https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(19)30040-1/fulltext

Disher T, Gullickson C, Singh B, et al.  JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5044 This systematic review identifies Buprenorphine as being the most usueful treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2721247?guestAccessKey=46e1efdd-c3b5-4f2c-9ea0-89a42b0c8ef3&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamapediatrics&utm_content=ol...

Lees D, Frampton CM, Merry SN. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online January 23, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4183 High risk families are at greater risk of having children with behavioural difficulties and often drop out of parent management programmes.  This NZ study demonstrates that a modification of standard treatment using a home visiting enhancement can increase parent retention and child behaviour. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/272...

Jangmo, Andreas et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , Published online Feb 2019 Despite the concern of many parents about the effects of stimulant medication on their childrens’ brains, this large  (657,000) Swedish study demonstrates that ADHD is associated with significantly worse school performance while stimulant treatment is associated with improved school performance. https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(19)30059-0/fulltext