Latest Research

Use of mobile devices to calm young children’s emotions may have long term adverse consequences, including worse executive functioning.  Radesky, J. S., Kaciroti, N., Weeks, H. M., Schaller, A., & Miller, A. L. (2023). Longitudinal Associations Between Use of Mobile Devices for Calming and Emotional Reactivity and Executive Functioning in Children Aged 3 to 5 Years. JAMA pediatrics, 177(1), 62-70. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2799042...

Contagion-related social media-associated abnormal illness behaviour may explain how illnesses such as Dissociative Identity Disorder and Tourette Syndrome spread via Tik Tok. Giedinghagen, A. (2023). The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen’s by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 28(1), 270-278. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/...

A 4-hour long single session cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT)-based intervention was as effective as standard multi-session CBT.  However, some families preferred the latter option. Wright, B., Tindall, L., Scott, A. J., Lee, E., Cooper, C., Biggs, K., ... & Marshall, D. (2023). One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi‐session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non‐inferiority randomized controlle...

Remotely delivered Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) is clinically an cost-effective at reducing symptoms of chronic tic disorder and Tourette’s disorder for up to 18 months.  Hollis, C., Hall, C. L., Khan, K., Jones, R., Marston, L., Le Novere, M., ... & Murphy, T. (2022). Long term clinical and cost-effectiveness of a therapist-supported online remote behavioural intervention for tics (ORBIT) in children and adolescents: Extended 12 and 18-month follow-up of a single-blind rando...

Risperidone and Aripiprazole have the greatest evidence of effectiveness for the treatment of emotional dysregulation and irritability in autistic children. Comorbid epilepsy is associated with lower efficacy of these two medications. de Pablo, G. S., Jordá, C. P., Vaquerizo-Serrano, J., Moreno, C., Cabras, A., Arango, C., ... & Parellada, M. (2022). Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions for Irritability and Emotional Dysregulation in Autism Spect...

Affective reactivity may be the mediator of sleep disturbance on suicidal ideation.  Improving sleep may improve affective reactivity, which may in turn reduce suicidal ideation. Hamilton, J. L., Tsypes, A., Zelazny, J., Sewall, C. J., Rode, N., Merranko, J., ... & Franzen, P. L. (2023). Sleep influences daily suicidal ideation through affective reactivity to interpersonal events among high‐risk adolescents and young adults. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry,&nbs...

Physical activity undertaken 3 times per week improves depressive symptoms in young people over the age of 13 with a diagnosis of mental illness.  Recchia, F., Bernal, J. D., Fong, D. Y., Wong, S. H., Chung, P. K., Chan, D. K., ... & Siu, P. M. (2023). Physical Activity Interventions to Alleviate Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA pediatrics. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2799811?gues...

Although depression is more common among young people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD, it may be more difficult to recognize and manage.  This review offers helpful advice. Thapar, A., Livingston, L. A., Eyre, O., & Riglin, L. (2023). Practitioner Review: Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder–the importance of depression. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(1), 4-15. https://acamh.onlinelibrary...

Despite concerns that psychotherapy interventions developed in non-lower and middle income countries (LMIC) may not be suitable for use in LMIC countries, this review found that they may in fact have larger effects, especially when delivered by trained professionals. Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Eisenman, D., Wasil, A. R., Singla, D. R., & Weisz, J. R. (2022). Meta-analysis: The Effectiveness of Youth Psychotherapy Interventions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries. Journal of the American ...

Internet-delivered, therapist-assisted cognitive therapy was effective for addressing social anxiety disorder among young people during a randomised controlled trial. Leigh, E., & Clark, D. M. (2023). Internet‐delivered therapist‐assisted cognitive therapy for adolescent social anxiety disorder (OSCA): a randomised controlled trial addressing preliminary efficacy and mechanisms of action. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(1), 145-155.https://acamh.onlinelibrary....