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Sturman N, Deckx L, van Driel ML. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Nov 21;11:CD011144. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011144.pub2. (Review) PMID: 29159857 This Cochrane review of methylphenidate use in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identified four studies showing that stimulant medication improves symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention and that it is well tolerated, at least in the short-term.  Methylphenidate did not alter core symptoms of ASD, stereotypical be...

Peris, Tara S. et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Published online October 2017. A number of young people fail to respond to cognitive based therapy (CBT)-based individual interventions.   This randomised controlled trial of 62 young people aged 8-17 years (mean 12 years) showed that 6 sessions of family therapy aimed at improving OCD-related emotion regulation and problem-solving (Positive Family Interaction Therapy – PFIT) could improve symptoms...

Thabrew H, Henderson S, Hazell P, et al. A. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2017; 51(10): 971-973. First Published July 6, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867417718946 This editorial on the state of child psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand summarises international data regarding the profession as well as current issues for clinical practice, research and workforce development in the field. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0004867417718946#articleCitat...

Charrois, J., Côté, S. M., Japel, C., et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2017; 58: 1210–1218. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12764 Maternal depression during the early years of a child’s life (prenatal/postnatal) has long been associated with long-term emotional and behavioural problems for the child, especially conduct disorder.  This study explored whether high quality childcare could ameliorate some of the effects of maternal depression on children and found that it could.  Children receiving hig...

Giletta M, Slavich GM, Rudolph KD, et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. Published online Oct 2017. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12804 Peer victimisation is an important social stressor than can confer long-term risk for poor mental and physical health.  This study of 157 adolescent girls found that those with greater experience of peer victimization experienced an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1, IL6) during a laboratory-based social stressor than controls. The authors postulate that their find...

Cidav Z, Munson J, Estes A, et al. JAACAP. 56(9); 777-783. Lifetime costs associated with looking after an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) range from US$1.4-2.4 million a year.  This economic analysis of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) showed that although health costs were higher for children while they received the treatment compared with those receiving community-based care ($14,000 per year over 1-2 years), children who received ESDM saved funders $19,000 per year in t...

Zeanah, C. H. and Myint, M. T. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2017; 58: 1177–1179. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12836 This editorial by Charles Zeanah and Myo Myint summarises how far we have come over the past few decades in dealing with issues of sexuality and gender and the valuable role that longitudinal studies have played in helping us understand things as we now do. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12836/full

Gringras, Paul et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Volume 56 , Issue 11 , 948 - 957.e4 This placebo-controlled trial of prolonged release melatonin (2mg escalated to 5mg PedPRM) for insomnia in 125 children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) showed that the medication was efficacious (sleep latency reducing by about half an hour on average), acceptable (taken even by children who do not usually like tablets) and safe with a number need...

Lyons-Ruth, K., Todd Manly, J., Von Klitzing, et al.  Infant Ment. Health J. Published online October 2017. doi:10.1002/imhj.21674 This summary of current knowledge about infant mental health disorders by some of the leading researchers in the field highlights the likely similarity of rates of mental health problems in infants as in older children, the significant long-term implications of such problems.  The authors summarise currently available interventions and identify global priorities...

Daley D, Van Der Oord S, Ferrin M, et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. Published online October 2017. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12825 Behavioural interventions are often recommended for use with children and young people with ADHD.  This review found that the effects of such interventions are probably mediated by reducing co-morbid conduct problems, rather than altering core ADHD symptoms.  Interventions were more likely to succeed when delivered by well-trained therapists and less likely to be effect...