Child Psychiatry Hum Dev [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Internal Validity of the French Version of the PARDI-AR-Q and Subtypes Analysis Among Children and Adolescents.
Rubio B, Rigal N
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41999486 · Publisher ↗
Although avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) as a distinct eating disorder category, r...
Although avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) as a distinct eating disorder category, research on ARFID remains scarce in France, primarily due to a lack of a French tool to assess its diagnosis. The objectives of this study were to provide a validated French-language assessment tool for ARFID and to examine the distribution of different ARFID subtypes (food avoidance based on sensory sensitivity, lack of interest in eating, fear of aversive consequences) in French children and adolescents, in the overall sample and by individuals' characteristics (i.e., age, gender). Using a translation and back-translation procedure, a French version of the PARDI-AR-Q was administered to 119 parents of children and adolescents with ARFID aged 2 to 16 years. Psychometric analyses supported the existence of the three subtypes with satisfactory internal consistency. Younger children had higher Sensory sensitivity and Lack of interest scores compared to older, while no sex differences were observed for the three subtypes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified five ARFID profiles (two pure and three combined). These findings support the availability of a reliable French-language instrument for ARFID diagnosis and underscore the importance of recognizing mixed presentations to inform early detection and tailored clinical interventions.
Implementing a Psychology Consultation Model on an Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Unit.
Leffler JM, Ong ML, Ridgeway JL … +2 more , Shekunov J, Judy AA
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41999485 · Publisher ↗
Integrated treatment teams are necessary to manage acute patient needs in an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit (IPHU). Teams often include psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers. Some IPHUs also include psychologist...
Integrated treatment teams are necessary to manage acute patient needs in an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit (IPHU). Teams often include psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers. Some IPHUs also include psychologists who may provide a range of activities that include providing therapy and testing, milieu management, treatment planning, and staff training, depending on the needs of the IPHU. Psychologists’ diverse skillsets and ability to adapt to fluid needs may in fact contribute to an inconsistent role definition on IPHUs. The current study, conducted on an 18-bed child and adolescent IPHU at a Midwestern tertiary medical center, sought to understand: (a) treatment team perceptions of the role of psychology; (b) stakeholder feedback on best ways to engage psychological services; and (c) stakeholder feedback on the implementation of eight-hour weekly psychology consultation service; and satisfaction with a weekly caregiver group for parents/guardians of inpatient youth. Fifty-two providers (i.e., registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed clinical social workers, and psychiatrists) completed a survey regarding the role of and satisfaction with psychology on the IPHU , as well as satisfaction with the weekly caregiver group. The results suggest overall positive outcomes for an eight-hour IPHU psychology consultation model, with 17% of staff satisfied, 56% highly satisfied, and 27% extremely satisfied. Results showed mixed satisfaction with the amount of psychology time spent with the treatment team; 42% of staff reported overall satisfaction, while 38% reported overall dissatisfaction.
Trends in Burden of Schizophrenia among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Global Analysis from 1990 to 2021.
Wang S, Yu M, He Y … +3 more , Wang D, Liu K, Xiang B
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41998468 · Publisher ↗
Schizophrenia is a significant neurodevelopmental mental illness. However, research on the trends related to the disease burden of schizophrenia in pediatric and adolescent populations remains limited. This study intends...
Schizophrenia is a significant neurodevelopmental mental illness. However, research on the trends related to the disease burden of schizophrenia in pediatric and adolescent populations remains limited. This study intends to examine the changes in the burden of schizophrenia among younger individuals from 1990 to 2021, with the objective of identifying areas that require targeted interventions and preventive measures. Data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 were evaluated to report the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia among individuals aged 10 to 24 years between 1990 and 2021, across global, regional, and national levels. We provided case numbers and rates per 100,000 individuals. Additionally, we examined trends in schizophrenia concerning age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Average annual percentage changes (AAPC) were calculated, and years with the most significant trends were identified utilizing joinpoint regression analysis. The study cohort was divided into three age categories: 10 to 14 years, 15 to 19 years, and 20 to 24 years. In 2021, the global incidence and prevalence rates of schizophrenia among young adults and adolescents were 25.6 (95% UI, 18.0-35.1) and 105.7 (95% UI, 70.7-147.5) per 100,000 individuals, respectively, reflecting a decline from 26.6 (95% UI, 19.1-35.8) and 110.5 (95% UI, 75.6-152.0) in 1990. Noticeable changes in schizophrenia incidence were found in 1998, 2001, and 2010. By sex, the incidence rate among men has always been higher than that among women. By age groups, the incidence of schizophrenia increased sharply with age. By SDI quintile, countries with low SDI experienced the most significant rise in both incidence and prevalence rates. At the national level, adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 in Australia reported the highest ASIR for schizophrenia, followed by New Zealand and the United States. The most substantial increase in schizophrenia prevalence rate was noted in Tropical Latin America. From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence of schizophrenia among adolescents and young adults followed a significant three-phase trend: an initial decline, followed by an increase from around 2000 to 2010, and a subsequent decrease in recent years. These findings underscore the need for future research and policy efforts to prioritize reducing health disparities and improving mental health outcomes for at-risk populations-particularly young individuals in low SDI regions. Timely detection and intervention remain essential to mitigate the impact of schizophrenia on individuals and society.
Parent and Caregiver Perspectives: The Lived Experience of Raising a Child with Misophonia.
Molthrop KA, Gates EC, Guzick AG … +2 more , Siepsiak M, Rosenthal MZ
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41998467 · Publisher ↗
Misophonia is a newly recognized disorder characterized primarily by negative multi-modal emotional responses (e.g., behavioral, attentional, somatic, interpersonal, and cognitive) to certain repetitive sounds and relate...
Misophonia is a newly recognized disorder characterized primarily by negative multi-modal emotional responses (e.g., behavioral, attentional, somatic, interpersonal, and cognitive) to certain repetitive sounds and related stimuli, usually produced by other people. Previous research has found that adults with misophonia commonly report that it begins in childhood and can cause significant psychological distress and functional impairment at home, school, and/or work. However, little is known about the challenges and perspectives of those raising a child with misophonia. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of caring for a child with misophonia, specifically in a sample of caregivers reporting any financial strain. We surveyed adult caregivers of people with misophonia (N = 22) to collect both descriptive and qualitative information. Using guidelines for reflexive thematic analysis [5], several themes emerged: (1) Household Impacted, (2) Caregivers Impacted, (3) Financial Impact of Misophonia, and (4) Non-financial Barriers to Care. This study highlights some of the challenges parents experience and explores shortcomings in treatment, advocacy, and awareness to inform misophonia researchers and clinicians on how to best support families raising someone with misophonia.
The Association Between Social Anxiety and Sleep Among Young People: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Du Y, Wan X, Xu J … +1 more , Feng H
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41995981 · Publisher ↗
Social anxiety and sleep are both crucial to young people's development, yet the nature of their association remains unclear and has not been systematically examined. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship...
Social anxiety and sleep are both crucial to young people's development, yet the nature of their association remains unclear and has not been systematically examined. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between social anxiety and several sleep indicators (e.g., sleep quality, sleep disorders, and sleep duration) in young people, and to explore potential moderators of this relationship. We searched six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, WANFANG, CNKI) on March 22, 2025. In total, thirty-six studies were included in the analysis. We found a moderate positive correlation between social anxiety and poor sleep quality in young people (r = 0.25). The moderating variables included ages (university and middle school students) and measurement tools for social anxiety. Social anxiety was positively correlated with insomnia (r = 0.42), daytime sleepiness (r = 0.54), and general sleep problems (r = 0.24), and negatively associated with sleep duration (r = - 0.27) in young people. This research suggests that promoting young people's coordinated psychological and physical health requires equal attention on social anxiety and sleep, with targeted, comprehensive interventions for overall well-being.
Death Conceptualizations: How do Youth Presenting to a Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Department View the End of their Lives?
Tezanos KM, Simeone A, Gerson R … +3 more , Baroni A, Spirito A, Cha CB
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41973372 · Publisher ↗
Youth are presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) following a suicide-related crisis at higher rates and younger ages. Clinicians lack tools to effectively discern suicide risk in younger patients. The present investig...
Youth are presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) following a suicide-related crisis at higher rates and younger ages. Clinicians lack tools to effectively discern suicide risk in younger patients. The present investigation examines how ED-based, suicidal pre-adolescents and adolescents conceptualize death. One hundred and sixty-seven suicidal pre-adolescents and adolescents (10-17 years; M = 12, SD = 1.4) presenting to a psychiatric ED with a suicide-related chief complaint completed assessments of suicidal ideation (SI; passive and active thoughts), suicide attempt (SA), depressive symptoms, and death conceptualizations (Death Avoidance, Escape Acceptance, Neutral Acceptance). Post-discharge SI and SA were assessed via survey emailed to participants 6 months later and via electronic medical record. At baseline, lower levels of Death Avoidance and higher levels of Escape Acceptance were most robustly associated with active SI. Pre-adolescents reported higher levels of Death Avoidance and lower levels of Escape Acceptance than adolescents at baseline. Death conceptualizations did not predict follow-up SI and SA. Youth who have recently experienced a suicide-related crisis are more likely to accept death as an escape from painand spend less time avoiding thoughts about death. This profile appears to be more representative of adolescents, relativeto pre-adolescents who display the opposite pattern.
Family Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Psychotic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Kieseppä V, Leppänen J, Healy C … +3 more , Lång U, Veijola J, Kelleher I
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41973371 · Publisher ↗
Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend family interventions for children and adolescents with psychosis. However, the evidence to support this has not been fully synthesised...
Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend family interventions for children and adolescents with psychosis. However, the evidence to support this has not been fully synthesised to date. This meta-analytic review investigated whether family interventions are effective in reducing psychosis symptoms and improving functioning among children and adolescents with psychosis. We included studies which (1) employed a controlled study design to examine the effectiveness of a family intervention, (2) only included children or adolescents with psychosis, and (3) assessed psychosis symptoms and/or general functioning. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, OVID, CNKI, EBSCO and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched on the 19th of March 2024, supplemented by grey literature searches. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tools. Bayesian meta-analyses were conducted to examine changes in symptoms and functioning. Four studies (n = 111) met inclusion criteria. All studies assessed the effectiveness of different psychoeducation-based family interventions. The meta-analyses showed no significant effect of family interventions on psychosis symptoms (pooled effect size = -0.93, 95% CrI [-2.77, 0.90]) or functioning (pooled effect size = 0.90, 95% CrI [-1.07, 2.70]) and indicated weak evidence in favour of the null hypotheses. We did not find evidence of a significant benefit of family interventions on psychosis symptoms or functioning in children and adolescents with psychosis. All included studies had significant methodological issues, which may have introduced bias. These results highlight a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of family interventions in children and adolescents with psychosis.
Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in Preschool Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Kawasaki M, Matsumoto K, Sakayori R … +10 more , Yamamoto T, Tachibana M, Mohri I, Hanafusa M, Furukawa K, Miyake W, Ishii A, Kagitani-Shimono K, Kamo T, Fujino H
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41964765 · Publisher ↗
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience significant dysfunction in various settings. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a psychological treatment that includes key components of e...
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience significant dysfunction in various settings. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a psychological treatment that includes key components of effective parenting programs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of internet-delivered PCIT (I-PCIT) in 4-5-year-old children with ADHD and their caregivers. Participants (n = 46) were randomly assigned (1:1) to I-PCIT (n = 23) or treatment as usual (n = 23) group. They were assessed at baseline and 16 and 22 weeks after baseline. The primary outcome was the severity of child's disruptive behavior evaluated using the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory at 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes included child's externalizing behaviors, ADHD symptoms, and parental outcomes (parenting stress, depression, parenting behavior, and confidence). The outcomes were analyzed using regression models to estimate treatment effectiveness for the participants. The I-PCIT group showed significantly fewer disruptive behaviors at 16 weeks (p < .001, estimated group difference: -53, 95% confidence interval: -38, -68). Improvements in ADHD symptoms were not significantly associated with treatment. The I-PCIT intervention was also associated with improvements in parenting stress (p = .002) and higher confidence in parenting (p < .001). This trial showed that the I-PCIT improved disruptive behavior in preschool children with ADHD. The findings of this study provide evidence for the effectiveness of I-PCIT in Japanese children with ADHD. The trial was registered on March 16, 2022 in the UMIN registry (UMIN000047166).
The Waterfall of Emotional Reactivity and the Clouds of Peer Victimization: Developmental Mechanisms of Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Problems.
Liu X, Wen X, Jiang W … +1 more , Liang P
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41964764 · Publisher ↗
Adolescence is marked by rapid psychosocial changes and a heightened risk for psychological disorders. Utilizing three waves of panel data from early adolescents in central China (N = 351, 47% boys, mean age = 13.66 year...
Adolescence is marked by rapid psychosocial changes and a heightened risk for psychological disorders. Utilizing three waves of panel data from early adolescents in central China (N = 351, 47% boys, mean age = 13.66 years; six-month intervals), the current study applied latent growth modeling to examine developmental trajectories of emotional reactivity, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and peer victimization, as well as their interrelations. After confirming measurement invariance across time, analyses revealed that all four constructs showed linear declines over time. Higher initial levels and slower declines in emotional reactivity significantly predicted higher initial levels and slower declines in both internalizing and externalizing problems. The data further showed that the initial level of peer victimization moderated these relationships: greater initial peer victimization amplified the association between emotional reactivity and internalizing problems, while accelerating reductions in peer victimization strengthened the coupling between decreases in emotional reactivity and decreases in externalizing problems. These findings integrate emotional dynamics, developmental cascades, and stress-sensitivity frameworks to highlight peer victimization as a critical contextual factor in adolescent psychological adaptation. Implications include the value of school- and family-based efforts to reduce peer victimization in order to enhance the benefits of interventions targeting emotional reactivity.
Bidirectional Association Between Psychological Resilience and Depression in Early Adolescents: the Predictive Role of Childhood Maltreatment.
Li M, Zhao Y, Tang T … +4 more , Li Y, Zhang X, Su P, Wang G
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41964763 · Publisher ↗
Psychological resilience could buffer against depression in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment (CM). However, longitudinal studies are required to establish the direction and temporal sequence of the as...
Psychological resilience could buffer against depression in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment (CM). However, longitudinal studies are required to establish the direction and temporal sequence of the association between CM, psychological resilience, and depression. The baseline sample included 1,608 seventh-grade students (54% boys) from the China Early Adolescent Cohort (CEAC) study, with an average age of 12.49 years (SD = 0.48). Assessments were conducted at three time points: September 2019, September 2020, and September 2021. Structural equation modeling was employed to investigate whether the bidirectional association between depression and resilience was identified in the context of CM. Childhood maltreatment, particularly emotional abuse, was a significant predictor of depression and resilience (β = 0.403, P < 0.001; β = -0.199, P < 0.001, respectively). A significant bidirectional cross-lagged effect between resilience and depression was identified, with the negative impact of depression on resilience being more persistent and stable over time. Furthermore, sex differences were observed; the bidirectional association was significant only among boys, while for girls, only the negative effect of depression on resilience was significant. These findings underscore the importance of interventions that simultaneously enhance resilience and reduce depressive symptoms, with tailored strategies to address sex-specific needs in mitigating the effects of CM on adolescent mental health.
Multi-informant Examination of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Relation to Sleep and Circadian Preference in Early Adolescents.
Miller MC, Peugh JL, Epstein JN … +2 more , Tamm L, Becker SP
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41945211 · Publisher ↗
Considerable research has documented an association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and poor sleep functioning, yet few studies have examined the potential role of frequently co-occurring cognitiv...
Considerable research has documented an association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and poor sleep functioning, yet few studies have examined the potential role of frequently co-occurring cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS). Further, extant studies have used non-optimal measures of CDS and/or sleep, small sample sizes, or rarely focus on adolescence when sleep problems often emerge and worsen, and few have controlled for depressive symptoms which are strongly associated with both CDS and poorer sleep functioning. Accordingly, we used a multi-informant design to examine CDS, ADHD, and depressive symptoms in relation to sleep disturbance, daytime sleep-related impairment, and circadian preference in a sample of 341 early adolescents (ages 10-12). Adolescents, caregivers, and teachers completed measures of CDS, ADHD, and depression. Adolescents and caregivers completed the patient-reported outcome measurement information system (PROMIS) sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment scales; adolescents also completed a measure of circadian preference. Multivariate regression analyses examined CDS, ADHD, and depressive symptoms in relation to sleep functioning. Across models with different informants, CDS symptoms were more consistently associated than ADHD dimensions with greater sleep-related impairment and sleep disturbance. In contrast, only self-reported ADHD inattentive symptoms were independently associated with greater eveningness preference. This study provides further evidence of the unique association between CDS and sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment, raising the possibility that the established association between ADHD and sleep disturbance may be in part due to or exacerbated by co-occurring CDS. Additional longitudinal research is needed to examine the directionality of effects and impact of sleep interventions on CDS.
Personal, Familial, and Social Predictors of Bystander Roles in Cyberbullying: A Multi-Group SEM Analysis by Gender and Migration Status.
Wang S, Zhao Y, Xie X … +4 more , Pan Y, Hou X, Huang L, Xue Q
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Apr · PMID 41920400 · Publisher ↗
Bystanders in cyberbullying play a crucial role by either defending victims, withdrawing from the incident, or reinforcing bullying behaviors. This study focused on three specific bystander roles in cyberbullying-defende...
Bystanders in cyberbullying play a crucial role by either defending victims, withdrawing from the incident, or reinforcing bullying behaviors. This study focused on three specific bystander roles in cyberbullying-defender, outsider, and reinforcer-and examined their associations with individual (self-control, belief in a just world), familial (parental support), and social (social presence) factors. Data were obtained from 1,556 valid responses collected in four public middle schools in southern China. Results indicated that girls were more likely than boys to engage as defenders, outsiders, and reinforcers, whereas no significant differences were observed between local and migrant students in role involvement. Multi-group structural equation modeling further demonstrated that the paths from self-control to defender and from belief in a just world to defender differed significantly by gender. In terms of migration status, significant group differences were found in the paths from self-control to outsider, self-control to reinforcer, and belief in a just world to reinforcer. Overall, these findings underscore the need to account for both gender and migration status when developing targeted interventions aimed at fostering constructive bystander behaviors in cyberbullying contexts.
The Role of Parenting and Cortisol in Children's Early Peer Relationships.
Azu-Narcisse MA, Ostrov JM, Murray-Close D
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41910895 · Publisher ↗
Prior theoretical and empirical work demonstrates associations between peer victimization and later aggressive behavior. To better understand this link in early childhood, the present study examined children's basal cort...
Prior theoretical and empirical work demonstrates associations between peer victimization and later aggressive behavior. To better understand this link in early childhood, the present study examined children's basal cortisol levels and parental warmth as moderators of the association between peer victimization in the fall of preschool (T1) and changes in aggression from T1 to T2 (preschool spring). Participants were 262 3- to 5-year-old children (M age = 4.30 years, SD = 0.31). At T1, children provided samples of salivary cortisol and parents reported on their warm parenting practices. Teachers reported on children's physical and relational peer victimization at T1 and physical and relational aggression at T1 and T2. Greater T1 relational victimization was associated with significant increases in relational aggression from T1 to T2. Children with low levels of basal cortisol displayed decreases in physical aggression when experiencing high levels of physical victimization at T1. Associations between victimization and later aggression were not significantly moderated by parental warmth. These results may help identify children who may benefit from intervention to prevent the development of aggressive behavior and subsequent academic and psychological challenges.
Co-Development of Anxious Solitude and Social Anxiety Symptoms from Middle Childhood Through Early Adolescence: Increased Transactions After the Middle School Transition.
Gazelle H, Wu Q
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41894118 · Publisher ↗
Childhood anxious solitude/withdrawal (AS) predicts social anxiety disorder symptoms (SAS) in childhood and adolescence. However, the nature and timing of transactions between AS and SAS across development and the impact...
Childhood anxious solitude/withdrawal (AS) predicts social anxiety disorder symptoms (SAS) in childhood and adolescence. However, the nature and timing of transactions between AS and SAS across development and the impact of ecological transitions is poorly understood. This investigation modeled cross-lagged effects between AS and SAS from 4th to 7th grade (approximately 9-12 years of age), to evaluate increased transactions after the middle school transition (MST) in the fall of 6th grade and thereafter. Biological sex differences in transactions were also tested. Participants were 230 American children (57% girls), half of whom were oversampled for AS. Peers nominated children for AS and children self-reported SAS in 4th through 7th grade. Results of a multigroup (biological sex) auto-regressive cross-lagged panel model revealed both stability in AS and SAS from 4th through 7th grade, as well as significantly more transactions between AS and SAS after the MST and during the first two years of middle school than during the last two years of elementary school. AS predicted increases in SAS just after the MST (spring 5th to fall 6th grade), and during the first year (fall to spring 6th grade) and second year (fall to spring 7th grade) of middle school. Conversely, SAS predicted an increase in AS from the spring of 6th grade to the fall of 7th grade. Most transactions occurred for both sexes, but several sex-specific transactions are also described. Results support a transactional model of AS and SAS co-development in early adolescence and the importance of ecological transitions.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents: The Relative Contribution of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Metacognitive Beliefs.
Hoff HU, Hjemdal O, Steinsbekk S … +1 more , Nordahl H
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41863576 · Publisher ↗
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) typically develops during adolescence and is one of the most prevalent disorders in youths. However, the remission rates associated with treatments indicate substantial room for improve...
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) typically develops during adolescence and is one of the most prevalent disorders in youths. However, the remission rates associated with treatments indicate substantial room for improvement. An important next step is to more precisely identify modifiable maintenance factors that can be targeted in treatment. Drawing on research in adults, two theoretical models have gained prominence in informing the conceptualization and treatment of adolescent GAD: The Intolerance of Uncertainty model and the Metacognitive model. These models emphasize different knowledge structures as the central maintenance factor of GAD, where the former assigns central importance to intolerance of uncertainty beliefs and the latter to negative metacognitive beliefs about worry. However, empirical studies comparing their contributions to GAD symptoms in adolescents are limited. Hence, the current study aims to assess the relative contribution of intolerance of uncertainty beliefs and negative metacognitive beliefs about worry as statistical predictors of anxiety, depression and chronic worry in a sample of 117 adolescents with analog GAD. Three hierarchical linear regressions were conducted, one for each of the symptom categories. Negative metacognitive beliefs about worry accounted for independent and unique variance across all outcomes, whereas intolerance of uncertainty beliefs only made an additional contribution to anxiety symptoms. These results imply that negative metacognitive beliefs about worry are the most reliable correlate of symptoms and chronic worry in adolescents with analog GAD, and that formulating and modifying them has the potential to improve formulation and intervention strategies.
Application of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference to Adolescent Mental Health Interventions: A Case Study for Hopelessness.
Thakur H, Parkhurst JT, Schleider JL … +1 more , Lekkas D
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41855002 · Publisher ↗
Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a clinical change metric that can offset setbacks in statistical and effect size approaches. MCIDs may be especially important for characterizing change mechanisms to und...
Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a clinical change metric that can offset setbacks in statistical and effect size approaches. MCIDs may be especially important for characterizing change mechanisms to understand intervention impact. However, MCIDs are rarely examined within the context of mental health-based interventions. The current study employed anchor- and distribution-based methods to derive MCIDs for hopelessness (a change mechanism) within a dataset for publicly accessible, open access interventions. Derived MCIDs were then examined within a randomized controlled trial dataset to understand their relation to prospective depressive symptoms. A cohort of 917 youth aged 11-17 years old (64.4% female, White: 30.3%) participated in brief, digital, self-guided interventions targeting depressive symptoms within the open access dataset. A separate cohort of 1,282 youth aged 13-16 years old (87.9% female, White: 66.7%) engaged with the same interventions in the randomized controlled trial dataset. MCIDs ranged from 0.13 to 0.38 units of change on a 4-point hopelessness scale. After correcting for multiple hypotheses, the MCIDs derived via the publicly accessible, open access interventions dataset did not translate to significant (q < 0.05) differences in three-month post-intervention depressive symptom scores within the randomized controlled trial dataset. Findings from this study led to important considerations for leveraging MCIDs within mental health interventions and outline a potential empirical agenda to further characterize the utility of this change metric.
Self-Control and Perceived Parental Psychological Control? Their Links with Depression and Problematic Mobile Phone Use in Primary School Students.
Ren S, Zhu C, Li J … +2 more , Liu X, Zhang D
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41855001 · Publisher ↗
Problematic mobile phone use has risen steadily in recent years, raising concerns about students' mental health and prompting growing scholarly interest in its protective and risk factors. However, certain research gaps...
Problematic mobile phone use has risen steadily in recent years, raising concerns about students' mental health and prompting growing scholarly interest in its protective and risk factors. However, certain research gaps have been identified. This study adopted a three-wave design to examine how self-control, perceived parental psychological control, and depression jointly influence the problematic mobile phone use among primary school students. A total of 489 fourth- and fifth-grade children (M = 10.560, SD = 0.826) completed questionnaires at three time points during one year. Results showed that a higher level of self-control was associated with a lower level of depression and problematic mobile phone use, whereas a higher level of perceived parental psychological control was associated with a higher level of depression and problematic mobile phone use. Furthermore, depression serves as a mediator both between students' self-control and problematic mobile phone use and between perceived parental psychological control and problematic mobile phone use. These findings indicate that self-control functions as a protective factor, while perceived parental psychological control acts as a risk factor for primary school students' depression and problematic mobile phone use.
The Accuracy of Temperament Ratings in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence and their Relation to Behavior Problems: An Analysis of Parent, Child, and Teacher Agreement.
Biedermann V, Spear J, Hemetsberger F … +1 more , Zentner M
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41855000 · Publisher ↗
Interrater agreement on child temperament and personality is often found to be low to moderate. While some interpret this finding as a psychometric problem, others argue that it may instead reflect the distinct contexts...
Interrater agreement on child temperament and personality is often found to be low to moderate. While some interpret this finding as a psychometric problem, others argue that it may instead reflect the distinct contexts and perspectives that shape each informant's perception of the child. To gain a better understanding of this issue, we adapted the parent version of the Integrative Late Childhood Temperament Inventory (ILCTI) for use in children and teachers and examined the agreement between parents, children, and teachers. We collected 280 self- and teacher-ratings of the ILCTI from 9-14-year-old Austrian children and young adolescents. We also obtained parent ratings for 110 children and a second teacher rating for 57 children. Results on psychometric properties supported internal consistency reliability and criterion validity (meaningful associations with internalizing and externalizing problems and school performance) for all three versions. Interrater agreement across all items of the ILCTI (as assessed by dyad-centered agreement), and on the six individual temperament dimensions was highest among teachers, followed by parent-child, parent-teacher, and teacher-child agreement. Interestingly, low parent-teacher agreement was associated with more behavioral and emotional problems in children. Possible explanations for differences in the extent of interrater agreement among rater groups are discussed.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) in Addressing Paediatric Psychological Difficulties and Family Accommodations: A Systematic Review.
Egan R, Byrne G, Hadfield K … +1 more , Swords L
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41848816 · Publisher ↗
This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the efficacy of the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) intervention in reducing child psychological symptomology (e.g. anxiety, OCD) and fam...
This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the efficacy of the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) intervention in reducing child psychological symptomology (e.g. anxiety, OCD) and family accommodations. A systematic review was conducted across PsycINFO, Medline, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Studies were included if they assessed SPACE and provided some measure of symptomology and/or family accommodations. Twelve studies were analysed using narrative synthesis and methodological quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment tool. The majority of studies were rated as low-quality. Most reported reductions in symptomology and family accommodations, although maintenance at follow-up was inconsistent. SPACE was generally comparable to other interventions, although control conditions were limited across studies. Emerging evidence supports the potential of SPACE in reducing both family accommodations and child symptomology. Future directions for research and clinical implications are discussed.
Youth Irritability as Consequence and Predictor of Family Conflict From Late Childhood to Early Adolescence.
Black SR, Aaron L
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Mar · PMID 41844947 · Publisher ↗
Child irritability (CI) is a transdiagnostic symptom of multiple psychopathologies, is prospectively associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, and may influence or be influenced by family functioning. The current s...
Child irritability (CI) is a transdiagnostic symptom of multiple psychopathologies, is prospectively associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, and may influence or be influenced by family functioning. The current study assessed bidirectional relations between CI and family conflict (FC) among youth (N = 10,608, M = 9.48 years, 47% female, 49.5% White) and one parent (85.3% mothers) across five years in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. In latent growth curve models with structured residuals, both boys and girls demonstrated curvilinear changes in FC and CI over time, with increasing and subsequently decreasing CI and the reverse trajectory for FC. Significant bidirectional, prospective associations between FC and CI, however, were only present for girls. Early CI was associated with FC one year later, while girls' reports of FC were associated with later CI across all timepoints. Findings highlight biological sex as a critical factor influencing associations between family functioning and children's symptoms.
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