Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

BACKGROUND: Parenting programmes are recommended for conduct disorders in 5-11 year olds, but ineffective for 25-33%. A feasibility trial was needed to determine whether a confirmatory trial of second-line, manualised short-term psychoanalytic child psychotherapy (mPCP) versus treatment as usual (TaU) is practicable. METHOD: This was a two-arm, pragmatic, parallel-group, multi-centre, individually-randomised controlled feasibility trial with blinded outcome assessment...

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The objective of this study was to explore the five most frequently reported fears in a sample of university students, and investigate the origins of these fears. The study employed a cross-sectional design with convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire and analysed using a combination of descriptive statistics and content analysis. Participants consisted of 544 first-year psychology students. This study identified academic failure, animals, general failure, losing loved ones to death, and violence/crime as the top five fears among a sample of university students...

We set out to examine key stakeholder perspectives on early detection and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Africa. Early detection and intervention improves child and family outcomes and lessens long-term costs. We focused on stakeholders in the Western Cape province, one of the better-resourced in terms of healthcare. Eight senior management level stakeholders, two each from government's Health, Education, and Social Development, and the non-profit sector were identified using purposive sampling...

This research examined the development of anxiety across adolescence and early adulthood among a sample of juvenile offenders comprising males and females. In addition, despite the understanding of maternal substance abuse and maternal unemployment as risk factors predicting development of anxiety, this research examined the interaction between these two characteristics for doing so. Analyses used group-based trajectory modelling to provide descriptive representation of general developmental patterns of anxiety...

OBJECTIVE: A case study describing the association between vagal tone and social-emotional adaptation in two distressed adolescent-parent (A-P) pairs during a Positive Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programme (P-CBTP). METHODS: Two A-P pairs completed a P-CBTP with pre- and post-intervention biosocial-emotional assessments; weekly training sessions over 7 weeks to develop individual strengths, new adaptive cognitions, positive discipline skills, optimism and knowledge on age-appropriate developmental expressions; augmented by moderate physical activity...

OBJECTIVE: This study represents an initial attempt to contrast behavioural and mental health correlates of shame as a result of physical abuse (PA) and sexual abuse (SA). Because they are distinctive forms of injury, it is possible that corollary shame from these injuries follows unique trajectories and ultimately results in different health challenges. METHOD: Self-report data from a survey on the health of youth receiving protective services for reasons of PA and SA was used...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review available literature pertaining to the psychological effects of multimedia-induced sexualisation of girls in middle childhood (between the ages of 6 and 12 years old). METHOD: A systematic review was conducted through a comprehensive electronic search. Nineteen studies were included in the review and the data was analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Two themes were identified, namely: 1) detrimental psychological effects of sexualisation; and 2) beneficial psychological effects of sexualisation...

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports on the process followed in developing the "TEAM" (an acronym for the proposed intervention) model for the promotion of mental health among school-going adolescents. METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed method combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences of adolescents, school health nurses and teachers in dealing with emotional and social problems in high schools...

OBJECTIVES: This paper investigates the trajectories of depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults, and explores factors associated with their depression. METHOD: For each respondent, three waves of data were collected in 2006, 2009 and 2013 from adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 years. The modified Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to interview participants, while the generalised estimating equation (GEE) model was used to identify whether certain factors were associated with depression...

OBJECTIVE: Cumulative violence exposure has been associated with both internalising and externalising difficulties in youth. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors that may ameliorate both exposure to and the impact of cumulative violence. This study aimed to identify sources of perceived social support amongst early adolescents in a low-income, high-violence community in South Africa, and to examine the association of perceived support with exposure to violence and with the severity of depression, aggression and conduct disorder symptoms...

There is disagreement in the literature as to whether biological attribution increases or decreases stigma. This study investigated the effect of an online biological intervention on stigma and help-seeking intentions for depression among adolescents. A three-arm, pre-post test, double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) was used to compare the effects of a biological and a psychosocial intervention delivered online. Participants comprised secondary school students (N = 327) aged 16-19 years. Outcome measures included anticipated self-stigma for depression (primary), personal stigma, help-seeking intention for depression, and biological and psychosocial attribution...

The presence of emotional or behavioural disorders has an impact on academic achievement. Access to behavioural health services is a challenge, particularly in rural communities. School-based mental health services have been recognised as an effective means of addressing the needs of students with emotional or behavioural disorders. This qualitative focus group study explored the service needs, gaps, and barriers to mental health services. Themes related to time, space, family engagement, and education for teachers and caregivers emerged from the focus groups...

OBJECTIVE: Limited data exists on psychological interventions for adolescent depression in African countries such as Nigeria. This study therefore investigates the effects of a psychological intervention that includes psycho-education and basic elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on depressed medication-treated adolescents in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This was a pre-post one-group intervention study of 18 adolescents aged 13-18 years with clinically diagnosed depressive disorder, attending a specialist psychiatric hospital...

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cannabis use among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State (UFS), and the extent of their knowledge about the substance. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included five year groups of undergraduate medical students. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used. RESULTS: Of the 643 medical students, 541 (84.1%) completed the questionnaire. In total, 161 (30...

Children living with a congenital heart defect (CHD) carry the burden of a condition affecting their biological, psychological, and social functioning. Even though the physical heartbeats of these children might be inaudible and defective, their intra- and inter-personal 'stories in sound' need to be heard and understood. The aim of this research study was to explore these 'stories in sound' in children diagnosed with CHD. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study using thematic analysis was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six boys and three girls between the ages of eight and fourteen years, who were diagnosed with CHD...

OBJECTIVES: There are increasing reports of younger children accessing media and screen. This study aims to describe screen use in pre-school children and its association with externalising problems. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of pre-schoolers aged two to five years was conducted. Their caregivers were asked to provide data regarding screen use by their children and themselves. The Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) was completed by caregivers to assess their child's behaviour...

Truancy among adolescents may negatively affect the achievement of academic goals. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of school truancy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. The analysis included 28 419 school children aged 13-15 years from seven ASEAN member states that participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) between 2007 and 2013. The overall prevalence of past 30 day truancy across six ASEAN countries (excluding Brunei) was 24...

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is the leading cause of death among youth in Guyana, a low- and middle-income country (LMIC), which globally ranks first in female adolescent suicides over the last decade. Worldwide, Guyana has experienced the largest increase in youth suicide, despite focused public health efforts to reduce suicide. Further, youth in Guyana, who are clients of the orphanage system and have faced early childhood trauma, may have an additive risk for suicide. Guided by an ideation-to-action theoretical framework for suicide prevention, the goal of the proposed research study is to describe and identify risk and protective factor correlates of youth suicidal behaviour among those at highest risk for suicide - orphans who reside in a LMIC institutional setting...

BACKGROUND: A family history of psychosis is associated with negative clinical characteristics of psychosis. AIM: We aimed to determine the relationship between a family history (in first-degree relatives) of psychosis (FHP) or of any mental illness (FHM), and the clinical features (including cannabis use) of first episode early onset psychosis (EOP). METHOD: Forty-five adolescents with first episode EOP presenting to psychiatric services were assessed by clinical interview with the following tools: socio-demographic questionnaire, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia (SOS) inventory, and the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) for cannabis misuse...