Research digest
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Functional Family Therapy does not reduce ASB or offending in youths
A randomized controlled trial has found that Functional Family Therapy (FFT) plus Management As Usual (MAU) does not significantly reduce youth antisocial behaviour (ASB) or offending compared to MAU alone.
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Psychosocial interventions for disruptive behaviour problems are feasible in low and middle-income countries
Erly 2018, JCPP published data from a systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for disruptive behaviour problems in children in low and middle-income countries. The study, by Professor Matthew Burkey and colleagues, found that child-focused and behavioural parenting interventions may be effective for affected children in these socioeconomic groups.
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Children at risk of developing antisocial behaviours show deficits in affective empathy
Researchers in the Netherlands and UK have monitored cardiovascular and electrodermal activity and eye tracking to assess affective and cognitive empathy in children at high risk of engaging in criminal behaviours.
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Language impairment needs more recognition in the juvenile justice system
Language and communication impairments in adolescents in custody is much higher than in the general population, estimates range from 60-90% compared to 7-12%. A study from Nathan Hughes and colleagues has investigated co-morbidity of language difficulties in a cohort of 93 young male offenders (15-18 years) held in a secure custodial facility in the UK.
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Police contact during adolescence can delay female psychosocial maturation
Over the past 30 years, the rate of female juvenile arrests in the USA has almost doubled. Despite this rapid increase, most research into juvenile delinquency has primarily focused on males.
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Low empathy in adolescent boys predicts violent behaviour in adulthood
Low empathy and low resting heart rate are established, independent risk factors of antisocial behaviour. Now, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have studied whether an interaction between these two factors during adolescence might mediate violent behaviour in early adulthood.
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A cognitive neuroscience review of the aetiology of ADHD
A simple neurological explanation has yet to identify an aetiology and pathogenesis of the disorder. However, advancements in imaging techniques should help to give a more detailed understanding of the brain regions that are different to those without ADHD.
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Depression – Foreword from the Editor
Welcome to this edition of The Bridge which focuses on depression.
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The overlap between low self-esteem and anxiety/depression in CAMHS
Our systematic review aimed to establish what is known about low self-esteem and anxiety/depression in young people (<18s). We wanted to find out whether young people with clinically significant anxiety disorders and/or depression also have low self-esteem as measured on validated questionnaires. We also wanted to know whether young people with low self-esteem as measured on a validated questionnaire develop depression and anxiety symptomology later in adolescence and young adulthood.
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Determining the “IMPACT” of therapeutics for depression requires an adaptive trial design
A large proportion of adolescents suffering from moderate-to-severe major depression respond to psychological and pharmacological therapy, and the range of effective treatment modalities is increasing. Now, Ian Goodyer and Paul Wilkinson have compiled a Practitioner Review that compares the various treatment options available and assesses their effectiveness for adolescents affected by major depressive episodes.
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