J Child Psychol Psychiatry [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Smartphone language and resting-state EEG indicators of self-focused attention prospectively predict major depressive disorder risk in adolescents.
Li LY, Kim N, Trivedi E … +11 more , Sarkas SE, McGregor MM, Sritharan A, Durham K, Alekseichuk I, Letkiewicz AM, Mittal VA, Pagliaccio D, Allen NB, Auerbach RP, Shankman SA
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41399007 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Central to major depressive disorder (MDD) onset and maintenance is maladaptive self-focused attention, which can be reliably indexed by greater: (a) usage of first-person singular pronouns (e.g., I) in natur...
BACKGROUND: Central to major depressive disorder (MDD) onset and maintenance is maladaptive self-focused attention, which can be reliably indexed by greater: (a) usage of first-person singular pronouns (e.g., I) in natural language and (b) alpha oscillations in resting-state EEG. Integrating these largely parallel bodies of research, the present study sought to explicate the associations between, and prospective predictive utility of, linguistic and neural indicators of self-focused attention in adolescents with remitted MDD over 12 months. METHODS: At baseline, 126 adolescents (ages 13-18) with (n = 66) and without (n = 60) remitted MDD completed resting-state EEG. Retrospective interviews determined the occurrence of major depressive episodes (MDEs) during the follow-up period. A total of ~2.3 million messages were passively acquired from adolescents' smartphones, on which the proportion of first-person singular pronouns was derived. RESULTS: During the 12 months, 29 (23.0%) participants developed an MDE (28 remitted MDD, 1 control). Cox regression showed that while greater usage of first-person singular pronouns prior to MDE increased the risk for MDE (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.02, p < .001), greater resting-state alpha power at baseline decreased the risk for MDE (HR = 0.78, p = .001). Moreover, greater alpha power predicted subsequent first-person singular pronoun usage (β = 0.17, p = .004). Mediation analysis indicated a marginal suppression effect (bootstrapped indirect effect p < .10), such that accounting for first-person singular pronoun usage amplified the association between alpha power and MDE risk. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight functionally distinct alpha mechanisms and provide support for smartphone-based first-person singular pronoun usage as a neurobehavioral risk factor and a potentially promising intervention target for adolescent MDD.
Ambient heat and early childhood development: a cross-national analysis.
Cuartas J, Balza LH, Camacho A … +1 more , Gómez-Parra N
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41358911 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that climate change, along with its cascading impacts on ecosystems, societies, and communities, has significant effects on both physical and mental health. However, less is known...
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that climate change, along with its cascading impacts on ecosystems, societies, and communities, has significant effects on both physical and mental health. However, less is known about how exposure to excessive heat early in life may influence the development of foundational skills that shape lifelong developmental trajectories. This study examined the effects of ambient heat on early childhood development across six countries, using geographic and time-stamped data on child development and ambient temperature. METHODS: Our primary outcome is the Early Childhood Development Index. We used linear probability models with geographic and seasonality fixed effects to account for baseline climatic conditions, as well as other individual and contextual covariates to address potential selection bias. The sample comprised 19,607 children aged three and four from Georgia, The Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and the State of Palestine, all participants in Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys collected between 2017 and 2020. We merged these data with temperature data from the ERA5-Land Monthly Aggregated Climate Dataset, calculating the mean monthly maximum temperature children experienced from birth to interview. RESULTS: We found that children exposed to average maximum temperatures above 32°C were less likely to be developmentally on track compared to those exposed to cooler temperatures, even after accounting for baseline average climatic conditions and other covariates. Domain-specific models indicate that these effects were most pronounced in literacy and numeracy skills. Subgroup analyses revealed that the negative impacts were particularly severe for children in economically disadvantaged households and urban areas, and for those lacking access to adequate water and sanitation. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the potential impact of excessive heat on early childhood development, emphasizing the need for policies and interventions that enhance preparedness, adaptation, and resilience to support human development in an rapidly warming world.
A detailed investigation of anxiety disorders in children of clinically anxious parents: a population-based study.
Elfström S, Wicks S, Dalman C … +1 more , Åhlén J
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41340584 · Full text
BACKGROUND: We assessed the risk of anxiety disorders in children of clinically anxious parents, focusing on the influence of parent and child sex, parental care level, depressive comorbidity, and anxiety subtype, while...
BACKGROUND: We assessed the risk of anxiety disorders in children of clinically anxious parents, focusing on the influence of parent and child sex, parental care level, depressive comorbidity, and anxiety subtype, while controlling for socioeconomic factors and other parental psychiatric conditions. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study utilizing comprehensive healthcare data. A cohort of children (N = 516,134), born in 1998-2015 and residing in Stockholm, Sweden, was followed until they were diagnosed with anxiety, moved, or turned 18. The primary and secondary exposures were parental specified and unspecified anxiety diagnoses, respectively. The outcome was child specified anxiety diagnosis. Associations were estimated using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among exposed children, 4.3% were diagnosed with specified anxiety disorders, compared to 3.0% of unexposed (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.38, 1.51). Adjustment for socioeconomic factors and other parental psychiatric disorders attenuated the risk (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.34). The risk was higher when parental anxiety was recorded in specialized psychiatric care (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.60, 1.79) than in primary care (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.32). Maternal anxiety was linked to a higher risk (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.56) than paternal (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.42). Children were most likely to develop the same anxiety disorder as their parents, in cases of social anxiety, specific phobia, and panic disorder. Parental unspecified anxiety diagnoses were not associated with an increase in risk (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Parental specified anxiety modestly increased the risk of child anxiety disorders. While the overall risk was lower than previously reported, it varied across diagnosis types and care levels.
Elevated neurofilament light levels in acute anorexia nervosa are associated with alterations in white matter volume and connectivity networks.
Hellerhoff I, Geisler D, Bernardoni F … +8 more , Doose A, Tam FI, Poitz DM, Chotjewitz N, Roessner V, Akgün K, Ziemssen T, Ehrlich S
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41330362 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder associated with drastic reductions in gray and white matter (WM) volume and structural connectivity alterations. However, the hypotheses regarding underlying...
BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder associated with drastic reductions in gray and white matter (WM) volume and structural connectivity alterations. However, the hypotheses regarding underlying mechanisms are inconclusive. The current study investigated the relationships of WM volume as well as WM network architecture with neurofilament light (NF-L), a marker of axonal damage. METHODS: Blood samples and magnetic resonance imaging scans from 77 predominantly adolescent female participants with acute AN were used. Associations of WM volume with NF-L were tested using linear models. The relationship between NF-L and alterations in brain networks was evaluated using network-based statistic (NBS) models, which predicted connectivity associated with NF-L levels. Additionally, associations with clinical variables and leptin were tested. To test the specificity of the results, control analyses were conducted on 77 female healthy participants (HC). RESULTS: We found negative associations between NF-L concentrations and WM volume. NBS analyses identified seven components, where fractional anisotropy was positively associated with NF-L. In some components, mean connectivity was negatively associated with leptin concentrations. Mediation analyses suggested that the negative correlation of leptin and NF-L might be partially mediated by changes in WM microstructure. These effects were not observed in HC. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that WM volume reductions in acute AN might be related to axonal damage. The NBS results indicate, that the elevated fractional anisotropy previously found in AN might be related to damage processes leading to axonal swelling. All in all, the present study supports NF-L as a global blood marker for brain damage processes in acute AN.
Measurement congruence between record data and retrospective self-report measures of child maltreatment: do positive childhood experiences affect discrepancies?
Russotti J, Warmingham JM, Levin RY … +4 more , Hutson L, Swerbenski H, Cicchetti D, Handley ED
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41315020 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Discrepancies between retrospective self-reports and official record data of child maltreatment (CM) are well-documented, yet few studies have examined how newer self-report instruments compare with record da...
BACKGROUND: Discrepancies between retrospective self-reports and official record data of child maltreatment (CM) are well-documented, yet few studies have examined how newer self-report instruments compare with record data or what factors influence inconsistencies across methods. This study addresses two primary aims: (1) to provide the first concordance estimates between prospective child protective services (CPS) records and the maltreatment and abuse chronology of exposure (MACE), a widely used retrospective CM assessment tool; and (2) to examine the influence of positive childhood experiences on discrepancies in CM assessment. METHODS: We utilize two maltreatment cohorts in which adults and adolescents with documented histories of CM and matched nonmaltreated controls were enrolled. Both cohorts included CM data from CPS records coded with the maltreatment classification system (MCS) and retrospective self-reports of CM and measures of positive childhood experiences. The cohorts vary in age at retrospective assessment (adults vs. adolescents), retrospective time lag (long vs. short), used different self-report measures (MACE vs. CTQ), and different methods for assessing positive experiences (explicit self-report vs. ratings of unconscious content). The rigorous dual-study design ensures findings are robust to study- and measurement-specific differences. RESULTS: Findings revealed minimal agreement between MACE self-reports and MCS-coded CPS records for maltreatment occurring from ages 0-12. Discrepancies were primarily driven by retrospective reports of CM not documented in official records. Importantly, in both studies, individuals with more positive childhood experiences were less likely to self-report maltreatment (via MACE or CTQ) that was documented based on official records. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that positive childhood experiences may help facilitate resilience among CM survivors by influencing memory and appraisal of childhood events. Clinical interventions that explore autobiographical memories may be particularly effective in mitigating the psychopathology sequelae of maltreatment.
Editorial: Probing the limits of youth participation in the translational science of neurodivergence.
Sonuga-Barke EJS
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jan · PMID 41273078 · Publisher ↗
Unblocking the translational path between science and practice is a major priority for the field of child psychology and psychiatry. I have recently argued that key to this, going forward, will be our ability to come up...
Unblocking the translational path between science and practice is a major priority for the field of child psychology and psychiatry. I have recently argued that key to this, going forward, will be our ability to come up with new framings of old challenges that allow us to develop new theories, hypotheses, methods and interpretations. I called this creative seeking-out of different perspectives, paradigm flipping. In this editorial, I argue that incorporating young people with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions into the heart of our science, as co-investigators and not just advisors, can promote effective paradigm flipping in a way that can invigorate our science. I illustrate this by highlighting a recent programme of research, Regulating Emotion and Strengthening Adolescent Resilience (RE-STAR), which demonstrated not only that such a radical participatory approach is possible but that it can change the way we do science in demonstrably positive ways.
The intentional and spontaneous social motor synchrony of pre-school autistic children: Evidence from fNIRS hyperscanning and machine learning.
Li K, Zheng C, Yang Y … +11 more , Du B, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Liu J, Cai J, Cheng W, Lv K, Chen L, Jia F, Su S, Tang W
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41252209 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Social motor synchrony is critical for successful social interaction. It remains unclear whether autistic children exhibit distinct differences in intentional versus spontaneous social motor synchrony, as wel...
BACKGROUND: Social motor synchrony is critical for successful social interaction. It remains unclear whether autistic children exhibit distinct differences in intentional versus spontaneous social motor synchrony, as well as what underlying interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) mechanisms drive these potential differences. METHOD: Fifty-four children (28 autistic) completed intentional (a delayed and synchronous imitation tasks in EX1) and spontaneous (a rhythmic hand-clapping task in EX2) tasks with an adult. Brain signals were collected by a portable multichannel fNIRS device and classified by GaussianNB machine learning approach. RESULTS: Compared with non-autistic children, autistic children showed: (1) significantly lower behavioral synchrony across both two experiments; (2) reduced activation in the right temporoparietal junction (r-TPJ, CH18) during Ex1, with no significant group differences in activation observed across all 20 fNIRS channels during Ex2; (3) significantly lower INS values in task-specific brain regions, that left inferior parietal lobule (l-IPL, CH3) in the delayed imitation condition in EX1; left inferior frontal gyrus (l-IFG, CH2), l-IPL (CH9), and r-TPJ (CH18) in the synchronous imitation condition in Ex1, and in the IPL (CH8, CH10-14) and r-TPJ (CH18) in Ex2. The GaussianNB model successfully discriminated between autistic and non-autistic children using task-related INS values, with classification accuracy varying by task condition, reaching 55.56% in the delayed imitation condition of EX1, 57.41% in the time-lag analysis condition of EX1, 64.81% in the synchronous imitation condition of EX1, and 74.07% in Ex2. Notably, the SHAP toolkit identified key channels driving group distinction-and these channels fully overlapped with the statistically significant INS channels identified in the analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Autistic children exhibit differences in both intentional and spontaneous social motor synchrony, and these differences are linked to reduced INS in key social cognitive brain regions (IFG, IPL, TPJ). This research advances understanding of social functioning variations in autistic individuals and provides a foundational foundation for developing INS-based diagnostic tools.
The stability of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 in children aged 14-36 months with elevated likelihood for autism.
Schaubroeck S, Demurie E, Begum-Ali J … +14 more , Bölte S, Boterberg S, Buitelaar J, Charman T, Falck-Ytter T, Hunnius S, Johnson MH, Jones E, Oosterling I, Pasco G, Pijl M, Van den Boomen C, Warreyn P, Roeyers H
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41243441 · Full text
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the stability of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) classifications in a cohort of 304 siblings at elevated likelihood for autism (EL-siblings). METHODS: A...
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the stability of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) classifications in a cohort of 304 siblings at elevated likelihood for autism (EL-siblings). METHODS: ADOS-2 assessments were conducted at 14, 24 and 36 months, with Clinical Best Estimate (CBE) autism diagnoses determined at 36 months. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that while some children have stable ADOS-2 classifications from early on, a significant proportion of the children show inconsistent classifications over time. The overall stability of ADOS-2 autism spectrum classifications increased from 14 to 36 months and agreement with CBE autism clinical diagnosis was moderate and increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Caution is warranted when interpreting individual ADOS-2 results, as they should always complement, and can never replace, a comprehensive clinical evaluation. These findings highlight the importance of continued follow-up beyond 14 months in young EL-children, a group for whom early assessment may be both feasible and beneficial and emphasises the need to integrate multiple assessment measures and multiple informants for accurate early autism identification.
Can a low-intensity evidence-based parenting seminar series promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and families? A cluster randomised trial.
Boyle C, Sanders MR, Ma T … +11 more , Hodges J, Allen KA, Cobham VE, Darmawan I, Dittman CK, Healy KL, Hepburn SJ, MacLeod LM, Teng J, Trompf M, Warton W
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41222624 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy of three interconnected parenting seminars delivered online and through schools in promoting positive parenting practices and improving children's social, emotional and behav...
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy of three interconnected parenting seminars delivered online and through schools in promoting positive parenting practices and improving children's social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing. METHODS: The study employed an incomplete batched stepped wedged cluster randomised trial design, which tests systematic replication of effects across different batches and steps and allowed schools to be recruited throughout the project. Parents (n = 912) of children aged 4-13 years (M = 7.91) from 160 primary schools in three Australian states were included in the evaluation. A comprehensive set of measures was administered at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up to track changes in child- and family-related outcomes. Data analysis adopted an Intention to Treat (ITT) approach, and intervention effects were estimated with Latent Growth Curve Models (LGCMs). RESULTS: ITT analyses showed significant improvements in positive parenting practices, parental adjustment and parental self-regulation, as well as reductions in coercive parenting, child anxiety symptoms, emotional maladjustment, behavioural problems and peer relationship problems with small-to-medium effect sizes. Intervention effects were systematically replicated in seven randomly assigned cohorts. Null effects were found on measures of parental relationships and child depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A universally offered, brief, low-intensity, school-based parenting seminar series can produce meaningful improvements in parents' reports of their parenting practices and parental self-regulation, as well as their children's social, emotional and behavioural adjustment.
Vocabulary development in autistic children: a network growth analysis.
Haebig E, West S, Cox CR
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41222131 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Autistic children are typically late to develop their expressive vocabulary, but little is known about their early word learning process. This study compared three network growth models on their ability to ac...
BACKGROUND: Autistic children are typically late to develop their expressive vocabulary, but little is known about their early word learning process. This study compared three network growth models on their ability to account for the trajectories of expressive vocabulary acquisition in autistic and non-autistic children. METHODS: We studied expressive vocabularies using item-level data from a child vocabulary checklist (n = 721 records from young autistic children; n = 2,166 records from non-autistic toddlers). We estimated vocabulary growth trajectories for autistic and non-autistic children and assessed the goodness of fit of three models of vocabulary growth, with varying sensitivity to the structure of the environment and the learner's existing vocabulary knowledge. To do so, we first computed word-level acquisition norms that indicate the vocabulary size at which individual words tend to be learned by each group. Then we evaluated how well network growth models, based on natural language co-occurrence structure and word associations, accounted for variance in the autistic and non-autistic acquisition norms. RESULTS: Our word-level vocabulary size of acquisition norms closely aligned with age of acquisition data, indicating their utility when age of acquisition norms cannot be derived for neurodivergent populations. Furthermore, we extended key observations and demonstrated that the growth models explained similar amounts of variance in each group. Both groups are biased to learn words that have many connections to words that have been previously learned; however, even after accounting for this learning influence, autistic and non-autistic vocabulary growth trajectories receive an added boost in learning when words are connected to many other words in the learning environment, indicating a similar learning profile. CONCLUSIONS: Both groups preferentially acquire new words by leveraging the semantic structure in the learning environment, indicating an overlap in theoretical accounts of vocabulary growth.
Cross-sectional and prospective relations between dysfunctional cognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms during late childhood and early adolescence: a test of two aetiological models.
Barcaccia B, Cervin M, Borrelli DF … +3 more , Mignarri G, Mancini F, Pozza A
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41220242 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) often emerge during childhood and adolescence, and two aetiological models have been proposed. According to the first model, maladaptive cognitive beliefs facilitate the tr...
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) often emerge during childhood and adolescence, and two aetiological models have been proposed. According to the first model, maladaptive cognitive beliefs facilitate the transformation of transient intrusive thoughts into OCS. The second model suggests that dysfunctional cognitive beliefs develop in response to increased levels of OCS. Few studies have contrasted these models, and no study has used a prospective design. METHODS: In this study, dysfunctional cognitive beliefs, OCS, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms were measured repeatedly on three occasions during a year in a sample of 950 late-childhood children and early adolescents (M = 10.80 [SD = 1.23], 51% female). Network analysis was used to examine cross-sectional between-person associations, and a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to examine prospective within-person associations. RESULTS: Cross-sectional network analyses indicated that dysfunctional cognitive beliefs were uniquely linked to OCS and significantly more strongly linked to these symptoms than to depression and anxiety. Prospective data did not support either model, but OCS and anxiety symptoms uniquely predicted each other. Sex-stratified analyses showed that dysfunctional cognitive beliefs predicted all types of symptoms at later time points in boys, while in girls, OCS and anxiety symptoms predicted each other. Assumptions of the two aetiological models of OCD were supported by cross-sectional but not prospective data. CONCLUSIONS: During late childhood and early adolescence dysfunctional cognitive beliefs may play a more prominent role in the emergence of mental health symptoms in boys than in girls, but more prospective studies are needed.
Editorial: Are we too high on medicinal cannabis in child psychiatry? Examining the evidence in Tourette syndrome.
Hardeman LS, Farhat LC, Koenig J … +1 more , Bloch MH
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2025 Dec · PMID 41216975 · Publisher ↗
There has been renewed interest in elucidating the role of the endocannabinoid system on both brain development and psychological phenomena across the lifespan. In parallel to these efforts, the use of cannabis-related d...
There has been renewed interest in elucidating the role of the endocannabinoid system on both brain development and psychological phenomena across the lifespan. In parallel to these efforts, the use of cannabis-related drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders in the community has increased considerably over the past several years. In an excellent research review article in JCPP, Tansey et al. provide a comprehensive overview of what the field of developmental psychopathology has learned about the endocannabinoid system. The purpose of this Editorial is to build upon the discussion around the current state of evidence for medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders, using Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders as an illustrative example.
Gestational kynurenine metabolites mediate effects of pregnancy adiposity on child negative affect.
Gustafsson HC, Wright HR, Schreeder JEJ … +2 more , Nigg JT, Sullivan EL
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41215669 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence links increased adiposity during pregnancy and offspring risk for mental health disorders. Yet the mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood, limiting our ability to de...
BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence links increased adiposity during pregnancy and offspring risk for mental health disorders. Yet the mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood, limiting our ability to design effective interventions. We hypothesize that alterations in the kynurenine system of the pregnant woman help to explain this association. METHODS: Participants were recruited during pregnancy with repeated assessments through 24 months postpartum. Maternal adiposity was assessed using air displacement plethysmography. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure kynurenine system metabolites in maternal plasma. Child negative affect was assessed via maternal report at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Participants (N = 302) included mother-child dyads (70% non-Hispanic White, 51% female). The ratio of picolinic to quinolinic acid (PA:QA) predicted child fear (β = -.15, 95% CI -0.27, -0.03, p = .02) and sadness (β = -.14, 95% CI -0.28, 0.003, p = .045) at 6 months. PA:QA mediated the effect of pregnancy adiposity on child fear (β = .03, bootstrapped 95% CI 0.009, 0.07) and sadness (β = .04, bootstrapped 95% CI 0.006, 0.08). Similar associations were observed when children were 12 and 24 months old, suggesting enduring effects. The ratio of kynurenic to quinolinic acid (KA:QA) was not associated with child negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evidence reporting that alterations in the kynurenine system during pregnancy are associated with increased child negative affectivity, an early life risk factor for psychopathology. Results further suggest that these kynurenine metabolites are a mechanistic link between pregnancy adiposity and child negative affect. Though observed effect sizes were small, results suggest that picolinic and quinolinic acid during pregnancy may be novel biomarkers for offspring behavioral risk.
Individual differences in effects of stressful life events on childhood ADHD: genetic, neural, and familial contributions.
Choi SY, Lee J, Park J … +5 more , Lee E, Kim BG, Kim G, Joo YY, Cha J
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 May · PMID 41204847 · Full text
BACKGROUND: This study elucidates the intricate relationship between stressful life events and the development of ADHD symptoms in children, acknowledging the considerable variability in individual responses. By examinin...
BACKGROUND: This study elucidates the intricate relationship between stressful life events and the development of ADHD symptoms in children, acknowledging the considerable variability in individual responses. By examining these differences, we aim to uncover the unique combinations of factors contributing to varying levels of vulnerability and resilience among children. METHODS: Utilizing longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (baseline: N = 6,303, age = 9.9), we applied Generalized Random Forest (GRF) to model the nonlinear relationships among genetic predispositions, brain features, and environmental factors. RESULTS: Significant individual variability was observed in children's ADHD symptoms post-stress, particularly at the 1-year and 2-year follow-ups. At the 1-year follow-up, increased vulnerability was indicated by heightened parental mental health problems and a lower polygenic risk score for smoking. By the 2-year follow-up, escalated parental mental health disorders, higher ADHD polygenic risk scores (PRS), and altered structural connectivity in the cognitive control network were significant contributors to individual differences. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of integrating environmental, genetic, and neural variables to identify children vulnerable or resilient to developing ADHD symptoms following early-life stress. This study demonstrates how multimodal data combined with nonparametric machine learning can advance precision psychology and psychiatry, aiding targeted support for affected children.
Neurodevelopmental conditions and adaptive functioning - a co-twin control study.
Isaksson J, Eklund F, Remnélius KL … +2 more , Black MH, Bölte S
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 May · PMID 41188694 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Challenges in adaptive or daily functioning are inherent to diagnostic criteria for neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). However, less is known regarding the influence of factors that may confound the associ...
BACKGROUND: Challenges in adaptive or daily functioning are inherent to diagnostic criteria for neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). However, less is known regarding the influence of factors that may confound the association between NDCs and adaptive functioning. Therefore, we examined the associations between different NDCs and adaptive functioning while adjusting for co-occurring conditions, genetics, and shared environment. METHODS: We used a co-twin control study design in a sample of Swedish twins (N = 314, age range 8-21 years), including both monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. Adaptive function was assessed using the parent-rated Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, second edition. A generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was fitted, using NDC diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Intellectual Disability (ID), as well as other psychiatric conditions, as exposure and adaptive functioning as the outcome. The model was first fitted across twin pairs and subsequently within the twin pairs, thus adjusting for genetic and shared environmental influences. Interaction effects of age and sex by different NDCs on adaptive functioning were assessed. RESULTS: All forms of NDCs were independently associated with challenges in adaptive function across pairs. The co-occurrence of multiple NDCs was associated with adaptive functioning, with a greater number of NDCs being associated with more functioning challenges. Higher age was associated with more challenges in adaptive functioning among autistic individuals. In the within-pair models, the association remained for autism and ID, but the association between ADHD and adaptive functioning was lost in the MZ sub-sample when adjusting fully for all genetic factors. CONCLUSIONS: NDCs are associated with challenges in adaptive function, even when adjusting for other psychiatric conditions, stressing the importance of adequate community support. Findings indicate the importance of non-shared environmental factors for understanding the challenges in adaptive function experienced by individuals with autism and ID and genetic factors for individuals with ADHD.
Regional cerebellar structural deficits distinguish psychostimulant-free ADHD youth with and without familial risk for bipolar I disorder: a cross-sectional morphometric analysis.
Tang B, Patino LR, Zhang W … +3 more , Lui S, DelBello MP, McNamara RK
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 May · PMID 41177538 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with familial risk for bipolar I disorder (BD) may represent a more severe illness conferring greater risk for developing BD, associated neurostructura...
BACKGROUND: Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with familial risk for bipolar I disorder (BD) may represent a more severe illness conferring greater risk for developing BD, associated neurostructural substrates remain poorly understood. This study examined cerebellum structural alterations, which prior studies suggested may be associated with BD risk. METHODS: We enrolled 151 youth (ages 10-18 years) in three groups: psychostimulant-free ADHD youth with a biological parent or sibling with BD (high-risk, n = 52, mean age 13.8 ± 2.6 years), psychostimulant-free ADHD youth without any first- or second-degree relative with mood or psychotic disorders (low-risk, n = 50, mean age 14.1 ± 2.5 years), and healthy controls (HC, n = 49, mean age 14.6 ± 2.4 years). ADHD youth were stimulant-naïve or had no psychostimulant exposure within 3 months prior to enrollment. Region-of-interest (ROI) analyses were conducted on the whole cerebellum and 28 lobules to quantify cerebellar volumes using the SUIT toolbox, and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses were also performed. Exploratory analyses evaluated associations between regional cerebellar volumes and symptom measures. RESULTS: Significant group differences in volume were observed for the whole cerebellum, bilateral lobules VIIIa, right VIIb, and left X. Post hoc comparisons showed that the high-risk group exhibited volume deficits in the whole cerebellum, bilateral lobules VIIIa, and right VIIb, compared with HC and low-risk groups, whereas both high-risk and low-risk groups exhibited left X volume deficits compared to HC. Similar results were obtained using VBM. Among all ADHD youth, significant inverse correlations were observed between significant ROI volumes and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) total score and several subscales, including the dysregulation profile. CONCLUSIONS: Psychostimulant-free ADHD youth with BD familial risk exhibit whole and regional cerebellar volume deficits compared with those without such risk and healthy youth. Inverse associations between regional cerebellar volumes and CBCL total and subscale scores among ADHD youth suggest clinical relevance and may represent a potential BD risk biomarker.
A person-centered and genetically informed approach toward characterizing multidomain resilience to neighborhood disadvantage in youth.
Bezek JL, Shewark EA, Suarez GL … +3 more , Klump KL, Burt SA, Hyde LW
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41133952 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Examining resilience to adversity across multiple behavioral domains (e.g., psychological well-being, social functioning) can better characterize positive development and inform novel prevention and intervent...
BACKGROUND: Examining resilience to adversity across multiple behavioral domains (e.g., psychological well-being, social functioning) can better characterize positive development and inform novel prevention and intervention efforts. However, few studies have employed person-centered methods to examine individual profiles of resilience across multiple domains in youth. Further, research exploring contextual predictors of resilience has rarely used genetically informed designs, which are critical for eliminating potential confounds. METHODS: The current study employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to extract profiles of resilience across psychological, social, and academic domains in 708 adolescent twins exposed to neighborhood disadvantage, a pervasive form of early life adversity. Next, associations between profile membership and parenting, peer, and neighborhood social processes were examined. Lastly, co-twin control analyses were conducted to explore whether associations between resilience profile membership and social processes were environmental versus genetic in origin. RESULTS: Youth were grouped into three resilience profiles: (1) High Multidomain Resilience (63%), (2) Low Psychological Resilience, High Social Resilience (19%), and (3) Low Multidomain Resilience (18%). Profiles differed in experiences of parenting (i.e., parental involvement, conflict), peer characteristics (i.e., friend drug-related behaviors, popularity), and neighborhood processes (i.e., social cohesion, informal social control, positive social norms). Follow-up analyses within-twin pairs revealed that the association between higher resilience and parenting (higher nurturance, lower conflict) was at least partially environmental in origin. CONCLUSIONS: Youth show distinct profiles of resilience across psychological, social, and academic domains, which are uniquely related to processes at the family, peer, and neighborhood level. Further, the association between resilience and parenting is in part environmentally mediated, suggesting a modifiable pathway to boost resilience in adolescents exposed to neighborhood disadvantage.
Annual Research Review: Developmental language disorder - a hidden condition with lifelong impact.
Iverson JM, Williams DL
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Apr · PMID 41131743 · Publisher ↗
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet, it is a hidden disorder: it can go undetected for years and may not be uncovered until academic, behavioral, and/or menta...
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet, it is a hidden disorder: it can go undetected for years and may not be uncovered until academic, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges begin to surface. In this review, we survey what is currently known about DLD across the lifespan, with a particular focus on its collateral effects in childhood and adulthood. We begin with a brief discussion of terminological issues that have contributed to the confusion about and lack of awareness of DLD. We then describe the development of DLD from infancy through adulthood, the ways in which its presentation shifts over time and with transitions to new developmental tasks and contexts, and some of the significant associated challenges outside of the language domain that are often faced by people with DLD. Next, we review current scientific knowledge about the neurobiological and genetic bases of DLD. In the final section, we provide an overview of some of the current best practices for screening and assessment and approaches to intervention for children, adolescents, and adults. We conclude by reflecting on challenges and opportunities for future research and offering some recommendations for clinical practice, particularly for mental health practitioners.
Analyzing direct and indirect genetic effects on early neurodevelopmental traits - a commentary on Hegemann et al.
Li Y, Liu T, Li X
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 Jun · PMID 41126535 · Publisher ↗
The study by Hegemann et al. advances understanding of the genetic architecture underlying early neurodevelopmental traits by distinguishing direct and indirect genetic effects using Trio-GCTA and polygenic score models....
The study by Hegemann et al. advances understanding of the genetic architecture underlying early neurodevelopmental traits by distinguishing direct and indirect genetic effects using Trio-GCTA and polygenic score models. Findings reveal that indirect genetic effects are particularly pronounced for hyperactivity and restricted and repetitive behaviors, while direct effects dominate in language and motor development. Notably, associations between parental cognitive and educational attainment polygenic scores and child outcomes suggest potential protective genetic influences. However, several methodological considerations may affect interpretation. Excluding closely related individuals could limit the detection of extended familial effects, and reliance on polygenic scores derived from predominantly European GWAS may constrain generalizability. Furthermore, current PGS explain only a portion of trait heritability, possibly underrepresenting true genetic contributions. Future studies incorporating extended family structures, diverse populations, and alternative methods to model gene-environment interplay are essential for refining insights into early neurodevelopmental processes.
Editorial Perspective: The challenge of evaluating ADHD parenting interventions - towards a hybrid approach.
van der Oord S, Dekkers TJ, van den Hoofdakker BJ … +2 more , Döpfner M, Sonuga-Barke E
J Child Psychol Psychiatry · 2026 May · PMID 41123338 · Full text
Behavioural parent training (BPT) has been recommended as part of multi-modal intervention strategies for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The evaluation of its effectiveness, however, is ch...
Behavioural parent training (BPT) has been recommended as part of multi-modal intervention strategies for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The evaluation of its effectiveness, however, is challenging, as meta-analyses have indicated a discrepancy between effects on most proximal (MPROX) and probably blinded (PBLIND) outcome measures. In this editorial perspective, we provide five hypotheses that may explain this discrepancy. The first three hypotheses assume that the MPROX-PBLIND discrepancy demonstrates that BPT does not reduce actual ADHD characteristics and that MPROX is picking up a false positive. The final two focus on the limitations of the PBLIND assessments reported in the meta-analyses and the assumption that they are giving false negatives. We conclude that a hybrid approach, integrating parent ratings and observational measures within a multimethod assessment approach, may provide a path forward. In conclusion, we argue that for parents and clinicians, parent ratings of ADHD characteristics and other parent- or child-rated outcomes, such as mental health, quality of life and general well-being, are more important than 'objective' symptom change, which encourages us to shift the focus from the control of symptoms to the promotion of general functioning and well-being.
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