This qualitative study evaluated an attachment-based group parenting program that utilises mentalisation-based approach. The Building Early Attachment and Resilience (BEAR) program was designed to promote parent-child attachment across the perinatal period and has pre- and post-natal arms. The post-natal component targets mothers and infants at risk for early disturbances of attachment to, and emotional

Objective: This review of online mental health resources was conducted to evaluate and document the availability of mental health resources pertinent to the needs of children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI). This review identified available websites and analyzed the appropriateness of content and readability. Methods: We conducted an extensive 6-month review of websites with available mental

Background: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) may get in the way of enjoying activities. A substantial minority of adolescents with CFS/ME are depressed. Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression. Anhedonia in adolescents with CFS/ME has not been previously investigated. Method: One hundred and sixty-four adolescents, age 12 to 18, with CFS/ME completed a diagnostic interview (K-SADS) and questionnaires

Aims: To assess feasibility and acceptability of exercise in clinically referred adolescents with major depression. Methods: Outpatients12 to 17 years with mild to moderate persistent depression participated in a supervised, pulse monitored, 14-week aerobic exercise but without control group. Primary outcome was adherence and secondary was clinician-rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology

This research aims to determine the mediating role of social deficits in self-criticism and aggression using a sample of 695 adolescents (girls = 49%, boys = 51%), aged 12 to 19 years (M = 14.97, SD = 1.30) from an urbanized city of Pakistan. Interpersonal Difficulties Scale, Self-Criticism Scale, and Aggressive Behavior Scale were used in the present study. Results indicated a significant positive

Preterm birth (birth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation) is common and represents a major contributor to global child morbidity and mortality. An estimated 10.6% of live births, nearly 15 million births annually, occur before 37 completed weeks of gestation (Chawanpaiboon et al., 2019). Collectively, ‘extremely’ preterm births (births at <28 weeks) and ‘very’ preterm births (births at 28–31 weeks) make

Objective: Children needing admission to an inpatient mental health unit often present with severe neuropsychiatric disorders characterised by complex psychopathology. We aimed to examine all admitted children with comorbid chronic tic disorder (CTD) and Tourette syndrome (TS) over a 10-year period and determine the clinical significance of these diagnoses. Method: A retrospective, naturalistic study

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a global crisis, with profound implications on public mental health. The current review focuses on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of mothers and their infants during pregnancy and shortly after delivery. Literature shows that in similar disaster situations, mothers’ stress reaction and mental health have a critical impact on infant development. Research

Background: Children are presenting in greater numbers to gender clinics around the world. Prospective longitudinal research is important to better understand outcomes and trajectories for these children. This systematic review aims to identify, describe and critically evaluate longitudinal studies in the field. Method: Five electronic databases were systematically searched from January 2000 to February

A growing body of literature demonstrates a strong relationship between sleep disturbances and depression in adolescence. In spite of this, few studies have explored how adolescents with depression experience sleep problems. The present study aimed to qualitatively explore the experience of sleep problems in adolescents with depression, including their understanding of how a psychological therapy impacted

Difficulties associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders can cause considerable impact on personal, familial, social, educational and occupational functioning. Living with a child who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder can therefore pose a challenge to family members, including typically developing siblings. However, it is only in recent years that the experience of typically developing siblings has become

A large proportion of young people accessing specialist mental health services do so for a single session. The aim of the present study was to examine the characteristics of young people attending specialist mental health services for a single session and to examine associations between single session attendance and clinical characteristics. Secondary analysis of administrative data on N = 23,300 young

The paediatric psychologist role has become increasingly embedded within healthcare teams with increasing recognition of the importance of integrating emotional health in physical health contexts. Ward et al.’s excellent article in the current issue provides a useful description and evaluation of the ways that psychological practices can become embedded within paediatric healthcare teams in the US

Background: In the DSM-5 diagnosis of childhood Gender Dysphoria, two of the eight criteria focus on body satisfaction of the child. Nevertheless, this subject is understudied. This study aims to describe the body image of children with gender incongruence (GI) in relation to birth assigned sex and the intensity of GI. Method: Self-report and parent-report measures on body satisfaction and gender incongruence

This study investigated the associations among family income and life satisfaction in parents, and parenting styles, income, and overall happiness and depression in their adolescents. A total of 1,913 participants comprising adolescents (aged 14–16) and their parents were recruited for this study. Participants were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Monthly household income was recorded by

Objectives: Mood disorders in youth are associated with social and academic impairment, and difficulties within the family system. Engagement in sleep hygiene, and family- and technology-based treatment models can address these impairments. The current study evaluates changes in functioning for youth who participated in a family-based partial hospitalization program (PHP) for mood disorders. Child

On March 6th last year, an International Adolescent health conference we had both been working on to be held in San Diego, USA, was cancelled because of warnings from the CDC about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and a tidal wave of colleagues cancelling from all around the world who were slowly going into versions of lockdown – a phrase that would become familiar to us all very soon. Within 2 weeks, where possible

Background: There is increased emphasis on the national reporting of Routine Outcome Measures (ROMS) as a way of improving Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This data needs to be viewed in context so that reasons for outcome completion rates are understood and monitored over time. Method: We undertook an in-depth prospective audit of consecutive referrals accepted into the Bath and

This study evaluated the relationship between parental autonomy support and preschool-aged children’s display of autonomy. Specifically, we examined if mothers’ and fathers’ use of positive guidance, negative control, and responsiveness during parent-child interactions predicted children’s autonomous behavior. One hundred families comprised of mothers, fathers, and their children participated. Parent-child

Objective: Suicidal ideation (SI) is significantly higher for youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), yet clinical correlates of suicidality remain poorly understood in this population. The current study investigates how change in risk factors for SI relate to change in SI intensity over a 6-month period of treatment. Method: Children ages 9 to 13 (N = 71; 41% female; 54% Caucasian; Mean age = 9

This article examines the combined roles of attachment mentalisation and diabetes distress in the psychological development of young people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). We use these ideas to unify the evidence for psychological variables affecting young people and their families and suggest how diabetes distress and mentalisation might be part of the pathways for development of psychiatric diagnoses

Pediatric presentations of factitious disorder (Munchausen syndrome) remain underdiagnosed and poorly understood compared to adult cases. The purpose of this study is to review the current literature on child and adolescent factitious disorder in order to better understand the differences between pediatric and adult presentations of this disorder. We also present the case of an adolescent girl with

The identification and diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is extremely important in order to help change the trajectory of an individual’s life outcomes. A review of the current state of evidence-based assessment of ADHD is dominated by the DSM-5’s conceptualization of behaviorally-oriented diagnostic criteria. This assumption that the DSM-5’s method for identifying ADHD is

The Benefits and Barriers model of NSSI postulates that engagement in NSSI is positively reinforced by potent benefits, however there are a host of barriers to engagement, any one of which is salient enough to prevent engagement. It is possible that individual differences in sensation seeking, a trait that describes optimal level of positive reinforcement, may alter the balance between the benefits

Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrative Therapy (AMBIT) is a systemic, mentalization based intervention designed for young people with multiple problems including mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of this approach both on clinical and functional outcomes for young people seen by a specialist young people’s substance use service between 2015 and 2018. About

Introduction: Cannabis is the most widely used psychoactive substance among adolescents worldwide, and the age at which consumption begins to decrease. Cannabis use in adolescents is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences in adulthood including increased vulnerability to psychosis and other mental disorders, as well as suicidal ideation and attempt. The aim of this study is to extend

We suggest a reconsideration of the role of ‘attachment orientation’ in the context of eating disorders and paediatric diabetes. Attachment orientation is a psychological construct that describes a relatively stable set of expectations and behaviours an individual relies upon in managing relationships. There is considerable evidence of an association between attachment orientation and the development

There is building evidence that early intervention is key to improving outcomes in eating disorders, whereas a ‘watch and wait’ approach that has been commonplace among GPs and other healthcare professionals is now strongly discouraged. Eating disorders occur at approximately twice the rate in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to the general population. In this group, standard eating disorder

Aim: To investigate parental help-seeking patterns prior to referral to outpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and whether type of symptoms or duration of mental health problems prior to referral influence help-seeking. Setting: Child mental health services in Denmark involve several sectors collaborating based on stepped-care principles. Access to CAMHS is free of charge but

Background: Mental health problems are increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world, and teenagers are no exception. They experience high levels of stress in their formative years which often leads to poor social behavior. In the present study, we examine the effect of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), a yogic breathing technique on perceived stress and social behavior of school going teenagers. Method:

Objective: This ADHD national survey has obtained original data on the assessment and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reported by Brazilian paediatricians and child psychiatrists; and has compared their practice. Method: The study questionnaire was delivered to 165 neuro/community paediatricians and 272 child and adolescent psychiatrists. Quantitative and qualitative data

Background: One in three adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have mental health problems. Multi-informant perspectives are key to psychological assessment. Understanding parent-child agreement is crucial to accurate diagnosis, particularly where severe fatigue limits self-report. Methods: Agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale (RCADs)

Therapist Self-Disclosure (TSD), the revealing of a therapist’s feelings, thoughts or personal information to a client, is an inevitable aspect of therapeutic relationships. However, despite its prevalence in clinical settings, we believe there is insufficient recognition and exploration of TSD in our work with children and adolescents. Because TSD is not often formally addressed during training, therapists

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is one of the most demanding chronic diseases for children and their families, since controlling diabetes involves a process of co-regulation with attachment figures. However, there is insufficient evidence in middle childhood on psychological mechanisms involved that might complicate the adaptation of these children. Therefore, 106 children (N = 31 with T1D and N = 75

At the time this journal started 25 years ago, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) was virtually unheard of among academics and clinicians. The 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the dominant diagnostic manual in Europe, had been published three years earlier in 1992. In this version of the manual, BDD featured only as an inclusion term under hypochondriacal disorder and

Dietary intake requires attention in the treatment of both eating disorders and type 1 diabetes (T1D) to achieve optimal outcomes. Nutritional management of both conditions involves encouraging a wide variety of healthful foods in the context of usual cultural and family traditions. In recent times, low carbohydrate diets have seen a rise in popularity, both in T1D and in the general population. Low

The integration of psychological services in medical settings has numerous benefits but a process for systematic integration and system wide evaluation is needed. A process model was created and evaluated for integrating services in 32 outpatient subspecialty clinics. Levels of satisfaction in caregivers (n = 98), physicians (n = 27), and non-physicians (n = 45) were assessed. Most caregivers rated

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is the only empirically supported family therapy model designed to treat adolescent depression, including those at risk for suicide, and their families. ABFT aims to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective parent-child relationship. To study the effectiveness of ABFT compared with Treatment as Usual (TAU) in reducing suicidal ideation

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is a topic of renewed interest. Much remains to be learned about its association with symptoms and diagnoses that have received little research attention, particularly sleep disturbance, somatic complaints, and autism. Our study is the first to explore the relationship between SCT and sleep, internalizing, externalizing, somatic, and cognitive problems, impairment, and

Insomnia is highly prevalent among adolescents with psychiatric conditions and is known to aggravate psychiatric symptoms. Research on cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with comorbid insomnia (CBT-I) is still limited. The aim of this study was to investigate feasibility and preliminary effects of internet-delivered CBT for adolescents with insomnia comorbid to a psychiatric condition. Twenty-one

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a feeding and eating disorder that results in nutritional inadequacies, weight loss, and/or dependence on enteral feeds, and for which three clinical subtypes have been described. We present a unique case of an 11-year-old boy with rigid ARFID since infancy and features of all three ARFID subtypes. The patient presented with a life-long history of

This study explored what contributes to successful family foster care from the perspective of young people by asking them about their most positive memory of family foster care. Forty-four Dutch adolescents and young adults (aged 16–28) participated in this study and shared their most positive memory in a short interview. Their answers were qualitatively analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis,

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease of infectious etiology in children. This study aims to compare cognitive impairment, and psychological status of treatment-naïve HCV children with control group. Treatment-naïve children with HCV and an equal control group of children of matched age and gender were recruited. Assessment included measures of children’s

Although the importance of caregiver engagement in a child’s psychological treatment is well established within outpatient treatment settings, the question remains whether these findings can be generalized to more intensive treatment settings where caregiver engagement may be more challenging to facilitate. A correlational, multi-informant design was used to collect data by caregiver self-report and

Levels of self-harm for young people in care are high, and even higher for those in residential care. Recent research highlights the importance of understanding self-harm relationally. Such an approach may be of particular value for understanding the self-harm of young people in care. The aim of this research was to understand the experiences of young people who self-harm whilst living in residential

In our prospective study, 168 adolescents exposed directly or indirectly to the same traumatic event—a fatal school bus accident—in which seven students were killed instantly, were assessed for post-traumatic stress, depression and grief symptoms at 2- and 18-months post-accident. Prevalence rates of likely PTSD and depression were noted across all types of physical proximity exposure: 77.6% and 48

Little is known about the school functioning of youth who are medically admitted with somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD). The current study examines school absenteeism and associated factors in medically hospitalized children and adolescents with SSRDs. Retrospective data were reviewed of 243 patients aged 5 to 18 years admitted at a pediatric hospital from 2012 to 2014, referred to the Psychiatry

Research has suggested that patients with depression have deficits in social cognition, however they provide limited data regarding adolescent depression. Moreover, the relationship of social cognition with clinical features and quality of life is less studied. This study investigated social cognition in depressive adolescents and the correlations of social cognition with clinical features and quality

Background: Parents of children with chronic health conditions can face many challenges. The Tree of Life narrative therapy group intervention aims to connect parents with their skills and resources before collectively exploring the ‘storms’ (challenges) they face. A narrative-informed evaluation aimed to story the parents’ experiences of attending the group. Methods: Seven parents attended a Tree

Although the theory of evolution lies at the heart of contemporary biology, its influence on the study of child psychology and psychiatry has been limited. In earlier work we have argued that evolutionary thinking has much of value for clinicians. Here, we explore the possible significance of evolutionary theory for understanding child abuse by mothers, particularly neglect, emotional abuse and physical

The main aim of this study was to examine the associations between emotion dysregulation and psychopathology in adolescence. A representative sample of 1,500 adolescent students (50% female) aged 12 to 19 years (M = 15.08, SD = 1.44) was recruited from schools and colleges located in the province of district Punjab, Pakistan, using a stratified sampling technique. Structural equation modeling (SEM)

The extent to which students’ level of depressive and anxiety symptoms and student engagement were predicted by parental emotional support, monitoring and harsh parenting was investigated using a series of multiple regression analyses. Grade six students from public primary schools (n = 293; 49% females, 51% males; mean age = 10 years) in Barbados completed the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression

Background: Limited early results indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. Pediatric emergency departments (PED) play a pivotal role in the identification, treatment, and coordination of care for children with mental health disorders, however, there is a dearth of literature evaluating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on

Research has indicated that multisystemic therapy (MST) is an effective treatment for youth with antisocial behaviours (Painter & Scannapieco, 2009). This qualitative study explored minority ethnic young peoples’ experiences of MST, focusing on their understanding of their presenting difficulties and aspects of the intervention which facilitated or hindered engagement and change. Seven semi-structured

Hopelessness is an important symptom of adolescent depression, being associated with both risk of suicide and poor treatment response, but predictors of hopelessness are understudied. Conflict with parents is common in adolescent depression, but parents and adolescents often disagree when reporting conflict severity. Discrepancy in reporting may be an indicator of the parent–adolescent dyad lacking

In play therapy with children, identifying play themes is key to understanding the meaning within sessions, and allows therapists to systematically track therapeutic change. This study investigated if play themes could be identified using a time limited, standardized assessment, for children aged 5–7 years. A descriptive, observational mixed methods, non-experimental study with 30 typically developing

Treatments for paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have not been designed or evaluated for younger children (5–11-years). The development of a complex intervention for this population requires an in-depth understanding of the perspectives and psychosocial context of children and families. Children with CFS/ME (5–11-years) and their families were recruited from a specialist

The way professionals conceptualise CD likely impacts the identity of children given the diagnosis, yet how psychiatrists conceptualise CD, and experience making the diagnosis, is under-researched. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis explored how psychiatrists conceptualise CD and experience making the diagnosis. Semi-structured interviews captured participants’ lived experiences and associated

We examined the impact of paternal rejection (based on father’s and children’s reports) on the children’s emotional eating behavior and if child psychological maladjustment mediated this relationship. Three hundred sixty-nine dyads of fathers and children were screened using self-report measures of demographic data, parental rejection, child psychological maladjustment, and disordered eating behavior

Research provides inconclusive results on whether a social gender transition (e.g. name, pronoun, and clothing changes) benefits transgender children or children with a Gender Dysphoria (GD) diagnosis. This study examined the relationship between social transition status and psychological functioning outcomes in a clinical sample of children with a GD diagnosis. Psychological functioning (Child Behavior