Archive

Cassels M, van Harmelan AL, Goodyer I, et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. Published online January 2018. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12866 Why are families such an important part of the treatment of young people who self-harm?  This study shows that children who experience early childhood adversity before the age of 5 years are more likely to engage in self-harm during adolescence if they experience poor family functioning at 14 years of age. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12866/abst...

Saul J, Rodgers R. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics. Published online February 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.011 This article reviews pro-eating disorder content available online and the research that relates to it.  It is a useful read for anyone working with young people with eating disorders and interested family members. http://www.childpsych.theclinics.com/article/S1056-4993(17)30135-9/fulltext

Sit DK, McGowan J, Wiltrout C, et al. Am J Psychiatry. October 2017 doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16101200. (Original)  PMID: 28969438 Increasing the range of non-pharmacologic methods for treatment in bipolar disorder, this randomised double blind, placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive bright light therapy in adults demonstrated greater remission rates (68.2% compared with 22.2%; adjusted odds ratio=12.6) , lower depression scores and no mood polarity switches by 4-6 weeks in those who recei...

Sanchez, Amanda L. et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , Volume 0 , Issue 0 , Published online December 2017.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2017.11.022 This systematic review of 43 schools and almost 50,000 elementary (primary) school-aged children demonstrates that targeted interventions and those implemented multiple times a week are more effective than interventions designed for selective or universal prevention in this age group. http:...

Fonagy P, Scott S, et al. The Lancet Psychiatry , Published online January 2018. First Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and now Multisystemic Therapy (MST).  Another British trial of over 1000 families showed that American-designed and researched MST is no better than treatment as usual for improving adolescent antisocial behavior.  Whether this was due to the quality of treatment as usual in the UK remains to be seen. For the moment, the authors do not recommend that MST is adopted as the i...

Brazeau, N., Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D. and George, C. Infant Ment. Health J 2018; 39: 30–43. doi:10.1002/imhj.21692 This study demonstrates that the connection between previous maternal trauma and later self-efficacy is mediated by postpartum depression.  Fortunately, emotional support for mothers suffering postnatal depression can buffer them from low self-efficacy. These results support the early identification and management of postnatal depression. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...

Allen K, Marlow R, Parker C, et al. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Vol 23, Issue 1, pp. 25 – 41. First Published January 30, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104516687612 Although many people wish to move from a deficit-based to a wellness-based approach to mental health, there are few validated measures of child wellbeing.  This study details the validation of a new measure, the How I Feel About My School (HIFAMS) questionnaire.  Designed for children aged 4–8 years, it ...

Geulayov, Galit et al. The Lancet Psychiatry , Published online December 2017 This review of UK data demonstrates the challenges of clinical risk assessment.  For every 12-14 year old boy that died by suicide, 109 attended hospital with self-harm and 3067 reported self-harm in the community.  For every 12-14 year old girl who died by suicide, 1255 attended hospital for self-harm and 21,995 reported self-harm in the community.  For every 15-17 year old male who died by suicide, 120 presente...

Goemans A, Tarran-Sweeny M, van Geel M, et al. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Vol 23, Issue 1, pp. 9 – 24. First Published May 16, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517706527 This study validated the Brief Assessment Checklists for Children (BAC-C) and Brief Assessment Checklists for Adolescents (BAC-A), measures designed to screen for and monitor attachment- and trauma-related difficulties among child welfare populations, in a sample of 219 Dutch children in foster care and ...

Pickard, J. A., Townsend, M. L., Caputi, P. and Grenyer, B. F.S. Infant Ment. Health J. 2018; 39: 44–54. doi:10.1002/imhj.21687 This longitudinal study found that prenatal maternal language use predicted later ability to respond to infant distress (related to greater attunement and secure attachment). Infant responses to mother and clarity of cues were also predicted by maternal pronoun use. This study provides evidence for the intergenerational transmission of internal working models. h...