Child Psychiatry Hum Dev [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Premorbid Weight Status Predicts Weight Gain During Treatment of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa.
Matthews A, Sim L, Saliba C … +2 more , Hebebrand J, Lin J
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Feb · PMID 41661486 · Publisher ↗
Weight gain is instrumental in recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN)/atypical AN, yet the effect of premorbid weight status on treatment-related weight gain is unclear. In 71 medically hospitalized adolescents with AN/atyp...
Weight gain is instrumental in recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN)/atypical AN, yet the effect of premorbid weight status on treatment-related weight gain is unclear. In 71 medically hospitalized adolescents with AN/atypical AN, relative weight gain, measured via change in BMI z-scores, was assessed over 12-months of outpatient treatment following hospitalization and compared for premorbid weight status. Patients with premorbid overweight/obesity had a longer illness duration (p = .03) and more weight loss (p < .001) than patients with premorbid normal weight, and less weight gain at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months post-discharge (all p's ≤ .01). Premorbid weight status was not associated with treatment dropout, medical readmissions, psychiatric hospitalizations, or psychotropic medication use (all p's > .05). Findings tentatively suggest that inpatients with AN/atypical AN and premorbid overweight/obesity gain less weight in the 12-months post hospitalization, despite similar illness severity indicators. Rigorous prospective studies are needed to solidify factors underlying these trends.
Bidirectional Associations Between Relational and Physical Peer Victimization and Sleep Disturbance Among Boys and Girls in Late Childhood.
Wright KL, Fite PJ
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Feb · PMID 41653244 · Publisher ↗
Children victimized by their peers and those with sleep disturbances are at risk for developing an array of difficulties and disorders. While there is some evidence suggesting that sleep impacts peer victimization and pe...
Children victimized by their peers and those with sleep disturbances are at risk for developing an array of difficulties and disorders. While there is some evidence suggesting that sleep impacts peer victimization and peer victimization results in sleep disturbance, the longitudinal bidirectional associations between peer victimization and sleep disturbance have been understudied, particularly in late childhood. Further, gender differences in these associations are largely unknown. To further understand these links, 175 children (ages 8-11, M = 9.30, 51.4% girls) in grades 3-5 completed measures of peer victimization and sleep disturbance. Physical victimization at Time 1 significantly predicted sleep disturbance 6 months later at Time 2, while sleep disturbance at Time 1 showed a marginally statistically significant association with later physical victimization 6 months later, suggesting a potential bidirectional relationship. Relational victimization was not longitudinally related to sleep or vice versa. Results also suggest similar effects for boys and girls. Implications of these findings are offered.
The School Anxiety Scale - Teacher Report (SAS-TR): Adaptation and Validation in Italian.
Felisi SM, Todaro F, Calì A … +4 more , Bonfanti A, Scalabrin M, Schindler A, Pizzorni N
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Feb · PMID 41653243 · Publisher ↗
The School Anxiety Scale - Teacher Report (SAS-TR) assesses children's anxiety from the teacher's perspective. Originally developed in English and subsequently validated in Spanish and Iranian populations, a validated It...
The School Anxiety Scale - Teacher Report (SAS-TR) assesses children's anxiety from the teacher's perspective. Originally developed in English and subsequently validated in Spanish and Iranian populations, a validated Italian version is still lacking. The current study aimed to translate, adapt and validate the SAS-TR into Italian. The SAS-TR was translated from English into Italian following 5 stages of cross-cultural adaptation and was assessed for face and content validity by five primary school teachers. A sample of 66 teachers completed the SAS-TR in a community sample of 201 children aged 6-11 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. To investigate the concurrent validity, teachers also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Teacher (SDQ-T). After four weeks, the teachers re-provided ratings on the SAS-TR to assess test-retest reliability. SAS-TR ratings for the same children provided by permanent teachers (who have ≥ 10 teaching hours in classroom) and specialist teachers (who have < 10 teaching hours in classroom) were compared. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure and the goodness fit of the scale, excluding item 12. The Italian SAS-TR exhibited strong face and content validity (mean = 3.71 ± 0.57), excellent internal consistency (α = 0.902) and almost perfect test-retest reliability over 4-weeks (ICC = 0.829). Additionally, moderate and statistically significant correlations between SAS-TR and SDQ-T "Emotional symptoms" subscale (ρ = 0.62) supported concurrent validity. Finally, permanent teachers reported higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared to specialist teachers (p < 0.05). Overall, the Italian version of SAS-TR demonstrates adequate psychometric properties, suggesting its suitability for assessing anxiety symptoms in children aged 6-11 by teachers.
Anticipated Emotional Reactions as Indicators of Adolescents' Perceived Social (dis) Connectedness During the Moment of Suicidal Crisis: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
Yirdong F, Taiyeba S, Gomez J … +3 more , López-Castro T, Lechuga J, Miranda R
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Feb · PMID 41632397 · Full text
Suicide ideation and attempts account for over half of emergency department visits among adolescents in the United States. Social connectedness has been identified as a protective factor, yet little is known about its ro...
Suicide ideation and attempts account for over half of emergency department visits among adolescents in the United States. Social connectedness has been identified as a protective factor, yet little is known about its role in the moments during a suicidal crisis. We examined adolescents' retrospective anticipation of others' emotional reactions to their prospective death by suicide as an indicator of perceived social (dis)connectedness during a suicidal crisis. Qualitative responses from a clinical sample of 104 adolescents (79 female), ages 12-19, with recent suicide ideation or attempt were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three superordinate themes were developed: (1) living for others: social bonds as protective anchors, (2) social disconnection and emotional disengagement, and (3) navigating dynamic social connections: protective or risk amplifying. These findings suggest that suicide-related interventions should address adolescents' perceptions of social (dis)connectedness and target both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors during moments of crisis to improve clinical outcomes.
Unveiling the Potential of Diagnostic Classification Models for Precise Diagnosis in Emotional-Behavioral Disorders: Evidence from Iran.
Rezazadeh R, Minaei A, Falsafinejad MR … +2 more , Farrokhi N, Hatamizadeh N
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Feb · PMID 41632396 · Publisher ↗
This study uses diagnostic classification models (DCMs) to improve how emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are assessed in children and adolescents in Iran. Data from 1,437 Iranian students aged 6-18 were analyzed u...
This study uses diagnostic classification models (DCMs) to improve how emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are assessed in children and adolescents in Iran. Data from 1,437 Iranian students aged 6-18 were analyzed using the DSM-oriented Child Behavior Checklist, focusing on six symptom areas: depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional defiant behavior, and conduct problems. Instead of relying on total scores, DCMs examine patterns of symptoms across multiple domains at the item level. A theory-based Q-matrix aligned with DSM criteria was developed, validated by experts, and evaluated using modern model-fit tools, including lens plots and RMSD indices. Results showed that simpler (reduced) models fit the data better than the fully saturated model. Strong links were observed between anxiety and depression, as well as between oppositional defiant and conduct problems. Some symptom areas (such as anxiety and oppositional defiant problems) showed greater uncertainty in classification, while others (such as somatic and conduct problems) were more stable. Importantly, children with the same total symptom scores often had very different symptom profiles, highlighting the limits of traditional scoring methods. Overall, the findings suggest that DCMs can provide a more precise and informative view of children's mental health symptoms, especially in culturally specific contexts. Further research is needed to confirm how well these classifications relate to real-world functioning and clinical outcomes.
Clinicians' Experiences of an Online Training Programme in Assessing and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Youth: A Qualitative Study.
Gumpert M, Ragnarsson EH, Birovecz A … +6 more , Rautio D, Lundgren T, Fernández de la Cruz L, Mataix-Cols D, Jansson-Fröjmark M, Ingvarsson S
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41591693 · Publisher ↗
The global rise in youth mental ill-health is exacerbated by a shortage of clinicians trained in evidence-based care, making it difficult to translate research into effective practice - especially for body dysmorphic dis...
The global rise in youth mental ill-health is exacerbated by a shortage of clinicians trained in evidence-based care, making it difficult to translate research into effective practice - especially for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), an adolescent-onset condition that often goes undetected and untreated. This study aimed to explore clinicians' experiences of participation in an online educational programme focused on the assessment and treatment of BDD in youth. We also aimed to investigate their use of newly learned skills after completing the programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 clinicians who had completed the online education. Conventional content analysis was used, identifying three main categories. The online format - personal and flexible included reports on building personal connection within online education, flexibility allowing for individualised and integrated learning, and on-demand online supervision facilitating participation. Educational content - motivated learning and facilitated application concerned diverse perceptions of test value, challenge and impact, varying content presentation making the education effective and credible, interactive and practical content for real-world application, and personalised and supportive learning through detailed feedback. Learning outcomes - increased knowledge and changed working practices included descriptions of enhanced proficiency in assessment and treatment of BDD, transdiagnostic value and use, and spreading knowledge and improving clinical routines. Participants reported generally positive experiences of the training and changes in working practices following training. Limitations were also noted, such as insufficient applied skills training and peer support. Future improvements should focus on enhancing practical skills training and providing additional implementation support at both clinician and organisational level.
Beyond the Tics: Experiences of Stigma and Psychosocial Impact in Tourette Syndrome.
Martindale JM, Chapman L, Carson AJ … +5 more , Reilly K, Malli M, Storch EA, Salsman J, Daniel S
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41579326 · Publisher ↗
Persistent tic disorders (PTD), including Tourette Syndrome (TS), impact individuals' lives well beyond motor and vocal tics, affecting self-beliefs, relationships, and daily functioning. This qualitative study examined...
Persistent tic disorders (PTD), including Tourette Syndrome (TS), impact individuals' lives well beyond motor and vocal tics, affecting self-beliefs, relationships, and daily functioning. This qualitative study examined stigma and discrimination experienced by youth and adults with TS, their caregivers, and healthcare providers through in-depth interviews with 35 participants. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: limited resources and funding, widespread misconceptions and stereotypes, negative experiences shaping self-perceptions and behaviors, and the importance of supportive environments in fostering resilience. Participants reported that widespread misunderstanding and exclusion led to significant psychosocial challenges, which were often more disruptive than the tics themselves. The findings highlight the need for clinical and behavioral interventions that address broader psychosocial issues, not just symptom management. Future research should explore resilience and protective factors that may help buffer against adverse experiences and improve psychosocial outcomes. This study was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05696769) and the Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EX52G .
Intergenerational Effects of the Mother's History of Neglect and Parental Bonding on Her Postpartum Bonding: A Pilot Study.
Torres-Pérez JD, Figueroa-Marcano IJ, Rosado-Abreu VI … +11 more , Kim S, Ríos-Ruiz EJ, Torres-Almánzar A, Balsalobre Vélez KI, Peluyera-García AM, Díaz-Méndez SC, Buxó-Martínez CJ, Rivas-Tumanyan S, Lugo-Candelas C, Martínez KG, González-Barrios P
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41578082 · Publisher ↗
Early maternal life experiences, such as childhood maltreatment (CM), particularly emotional neglect may disrupt her recall of parental bonding experiences and the development of a healthy mother-infant relationship. Thi...
Early maternal life experiences, such as childhood maltreatment (CM), particularly emotional neglect may disrupt her recall of parental bonding experiences and the development of a healthy mother-infant relationship. This pilot study of thirty-eight postpartum Latina mothers examined preliminary intergenerational associations of maternal retrospective self-reported history of CM, particularly emotional and physical neglect (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-CTQ), perception of parental bonding (PBI) and postpartum bonding PBQ with her infant. Nonparametric correlations showed that higher emotional neglect, more consistent than physical neglect, was associated with a lower perceived maternal and paternal care, and higher paternal overprotection. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated preliminary evidence that emotional neglect was the most consistent predictor of postpartum bonding difficulties, including general bonding impairment, rejection/anger, and infant-focused anxiety. Higher maternal gestational age emerged as a possible protective factor across model, associated with more favorable bonding outcomes. These preliminary findings suggest that emotional neglect may exert lasting intergenerational effects on perceived parental bonding and maternal bonding capacities in the postpartum period. These results highlight the need for trauma-informed perinatal care and early screening of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to prevent child maltreatment in Hispanic populations.
Parental Subjective Disaster Experiences and Behavioral Problems in Children Born After the Great East Japan Earthquake: An Intergenerational Perspective.
Fukuchi N, Chiba S, Yagi J … +3 more , Masuya J, Matsuura N, Suzuki E
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41563554 · Publisher ↗
This study examined associations of parents' subjective perceptions of disaster-related harm from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) with their mental health and with emotional and behavioral problems in their childr...
This study examined associations of parents' subjective perceptions of disaster-related harm from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) with their mental health and with emotional and behavioral problems in their children born post-disaster. Participants included 218 parents (207 mothers, 11 fathers) and 219 children born post-GEJE, residing in affected areas. Parents served as proxy reporters, completing measures assessing their disaster-related experiences, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and their children's emotional and behavioral problems. Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate pathways among variables. Higher disaster-impact scores were significantly associated with poorer parental mental health (β = 0.15, p = .048), which was associated with more emotional and behavioral problems in children (β = 0.43, p < .001). The relationship between disaster impact and children's outcomes was mediated through parental mental health rather than through a direct pathway. Children's psychological adjustment following large-scale disasters may be influenced by their caregivers' mental health, even without direct trauma exposure. Family-centered mental health interventions are essential components of comprehensive disaster-recovery strategies.
The Diversity Effect of Psychological Resilience on the Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Multiple Psychological Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents: A Large-Scale Regional Study.
Huang B, Wang W, Huang N … +6 more , Chen C, Zhang M, Hu B, Liu Z, Fu M, Guo J
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41557255 · Publisher ↗
This study aimed to explore the relationship between bullying victimization and multiple psychological symptoms among Chinese adolescents and to evaluate the moderating role of psychological resilience in this relationsh...
This study aimed to explore the relationship between bullying victimization and multiple psychological symptoms among Chinese adolescents and to evaluate the moderating role of psychological resilience in this relationship. Using large-scale regional data from a county in northeastern China (N = 22,264), we identified bullying victimization subtypes through latent class analysis (LCA), quantified comorbidity risks via multinomial logistic regression, and examined the moderating effects of resilience across subgroups. Three victimization profiles emerged: non-victimized (80.9%), moderately victimized (13.6%), and poly-victimized (5.5%) groups. Compared to the non-victimized group, the moderately victimized group demonstrated higher odds ratios (ORs) for multiple psychological symptoms (all three symptoms: OR = 6.872; any two symptoms: OR = 4.470; any one symptom: OR = 2.610). The poly-victimized group exhibited significantly higher odds across all symptom categories (all three symptoms: OR = 43.678; any two symptoms: OR = 18.246; any one symptom: OR = 5.974). Resilience demonstrated heterogeneous moderation effects: it showed no significant interaction in the moderately victimized group, whereas it was associated with significant risk amplification in the poly-victimized group (OR = 1.040, p < 0.001). Bullying victimization is significantly associated with concurrent psychological symptoms. However, resilience does not universally buffer against stress. For adolescents subjected to severe poly-victimization, high levels of resilience appear to amplify psychological risks instead of providing a buffering effect. The findings suggest that tailored intervention strategies should prioritize victimization severity rather than adopt a universal resilience-promotion approach.
Post-traumatic Symptoms Among Ukrainian Refugee Minors and their Caregivers: A Descriptive Screening Study in Polish Refugee Camps.
Rozynek D, Nawrot L, Śmierciak N … +6 more , Rozynek M, Bernacik A, Pulka A, Skowronek A, Guzik B, Pilecki M
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41557254 · Publisher ↗
The ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine has led to the large-scale displacement of civilians, many of whom have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland. To assess the occurrence of post-traumatic stress (PTS)...
The ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine has led to the large-scale displacement of civilians, many of whom have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland. To assess the occurrence of post-traumatic stress (PTS) and other psychosocial symptoms among Ukrainian refugee children, adolescents, and adults, a cross-sectional screening study was conducted in refugee camps in Krakow between August and October 2022. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data collection employed validated tools, including the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS), the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC, Youth-PSC), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Ukrainian-Polish Questionnaire (pl. Ukraińsko-Polski Kwestionariusz, UPK) for the Analysis of Development and Current Difficulties of Children and Adolescents. The analyzed cohort consisted of 64 active participants, including 11 children aged 13-17 and 53 adults, of whom 31 also completed questionnaires in their role as caregivers. Overall, 131 anonymous questionnaires were completed. The study reveals psychological distress among refugees, with adolescents reporting the highest levels of PTS symptoms (63.64% self-reported above the cut-off). Caregivers noted PTS symptoms in 25% of children aged 3-6 and 15.78% of those aged 7-17. The Y-PSC identified psychosocial issues in 45% of children. Using the UPK questionnaire, parents primarily reported behavioral concerns, but despite these hardships, caregivers also highlighted children's strengths, such as empathy and creativity. The study underscores the profound psychological toll of war on young refugees and highlights the need for trauma-informed interventions to address their unique challenges.
Parenting Behavior Profiles and Subsequent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents: A Prospective Moderated Serial Mediation Model.
Du Q, Wu N, Luo D … +2 more , Zheng X, Lin L
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41549161 · Publisher ↗
Parenting behaviors, including autonomy support and psychological control, have been shown to significantly influence adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the underlying mechanisms linking heterogeneous p...
Parenting behaviors, including autonomy support and psychological control, have been shown to significantly influence adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the underlying mechanisms linking heterogeneous parenting behavior profiles to adolescent NSSI remain unclear. This two-wave longitudinal study (with a one-year interval) of 742 Chinese adolescents (52.7% girls; Mage at Time 1 = 13.40 years) identified four distinct parenting profiles using latent profile analysis (LPA): Supportive (43.6% of the sample), Controlling (17.4%), Moderate Mixed Parenting (33.1%) and High Mixed Parenting (5.9%). Multicategorical serial mediation analysis revealed that adolescent emotion regulation difficulties and depressive symptoms serially mediated the relationship between parenting profiles and NSSI for adolescents in the Controlling, Moderate Mixed Parenting and High Mixed Parenting Profiles. Notably, these mediating effects were significant only for girls. These findings underscore the importance of adopting person-centered and sex-sensitive intervention strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of detrimental parenting behaviors on adolescent NSSI.
The Challenges of Parenting a Child with Anxiety: Insights from a Qualitative Lived Experience Study.
Grajdan MMV, Etel E, Shiels A … +2 more , Farrell LJ, Donovan CL
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41533301 · Publisher ↗
While research has explored parental perspectives on help-seeking and treatment engagement for child anxiety, less is known about how parents make sense of their everyday caregiving role. Understanding this lived experie...
While research has explored parental perspectives on help-seeking and treatment engagement for child anxiety, less is known about how parents make sense of their everyday caregiving role. Understanding this lived experience is crucial for developing meaningful supports. This qualitative study explored how parents experience supporting a 7- to 12-year-old child with anxiety in daily life. Eight parents participated in in-depth, semi-structured online interviews, analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to develop a detailed understanding of their meaning-making. This paper presents the group experiential theme "Exhausting uncertainty: Parenting as a constant battle" and its four subthemes depicting the challenges of parenting a child with anxiety: (1) "Understanding the unknown", (2) "Anticipating the next move", (3) "Responding to escalations", and (4) "Regrouping for the next battle". Parents described a continual trial-and-error process of interpreting and managing anxiety, characterised by parent-child communication gaps and a lack of clear guidance. While they found small ways to recover amidst daily struggles, they often felt isolated, on edge, and unequipped to respond to escalations. These findings highlight the emotional and practical complexities of parenting a child with anxiety. Supports that are grounded in parents' everyday experiences and acknowledge uncertainty, emotional strain, and diverse family contexts may more effectively meet the needs of both parents and children.
Silent Stress: Psychophysiological Arousal During Verbal and Nonverbal Tasks in Children with Selective Mutism.
Nibbering NN, van Rijn SS, Brouwer EJE … +2 more , Swaab HH, de Jonge MVM
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41511589 · Publisher ↗
The silent behaviour of children with selective mutism (SM) is often assumed to reflect an acute stress-related response to social-communicative anxiety, yet objective evidence remains limited, especially in young childr...
The silent behaviour of children with selective mutism (SM) is often assumed to reflect an acute stress-related response to social-communicative anxiety, yet objective evidence remains limited, especially in young children. To explore the potential stress-related mechanisms underlying silence in socially challenging situations, we assessed both acute and chronic stress. Eighty-three children aged 4-8 years (37 with SM, 46 controls) completed two socially demanding interaction tasks - one verbal and one nonverbal - each with three phases: anticipation, performance, and recovery. Heart rate (HR) was measured at rest and continuously throughout all task phases. Chronic stress was indexed via hair cortisol concentration (HCC). Compared to controls, children with SM showed elevated resting HR and higher arousal during both verbal and nonverbal social tasks. During the verbal task, the SM group (80% remained silent) exhibited blunted HR reactivity from anticipation to performance, suggesting a silence related coping effect. No group differences emerged in arousal patterns over time during the nonverbal task. HCC levels were significantly higher in the SM group, indicating increased chronic stress, however HCC was not correlated with SM severity. These findings support the view that mutism serves as an emotion regulation mechanism to reduce arousal in anticipation of verbal demands. The results underscore the importance of stress-reducing interventions for young children experiencing high stress in daily life and support the need for exposure-based interventions for children with SM, enabling them to learn that anticipated threats often do not occur, leading to decreased arousal and improved regulation.
Characterising Maternal Sensitivity in a High Risk, Peri-urban LMIC Context: The Drakenstein Child Health Study.
Prag A, Hoffman N, Stromin J … +3 more , Zar H, Stein DJ, Smith SM
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41507427 · Publisher ↗
A prolific amount of data regarding maternal sensitivity and child development outcomes comes from high income, industrialised western contexts. Sparse attention has been paid to characterising patterns or unique express...
A prolific amount of data regarding maternal sensitivity and child development outcomes comes from high income, industrialised western contexts. Sparse attention has been paid to characterising patterns or unique expressions of sensitivity as an independent topic of study globally with a glaring dearth of comparative data from LMICs including sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to detail maternal sensitivity within the dyadic interaction between mother and her 42-month-old child (n = 130) in a peri-urban low socioeconomic context as part of the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Ten-minute videoed interactions were coded using the Emotional Availability Scale. We found no report of psychometric properties and applicability of the EA in our context, therefore confirmatory followed by exploratory factor analysis on the four maternal subscales was conducted. EFA using scree plot and parallel analysis extracted a 3 factor model that better fit our data than the original four. Factor 1-Sensitive Engagement, Factor 2-Non-Hostile Supportive Engagement and Factor 3-Non-Intrusive Engagement aligned theoretically with the original maternal subscales. The new Sensitive Engagement subscale accounted for 25% cohort variance and mothers showed varied distribution over five categories ranging from Highly Sensitive to Highly Insensitive. Cumulatively, 59% of total variance is explained by 3 factors - Factor 2-22% and Factor 3-12%. Significantly, our cohort shows remarkably resilient sensitivity patterns and behaviours considering the extremely harsh and challenging environments in which they must raise children.
An Investigation of Inhibitory Control as a Mechanism Differentiating Tonic and Phasic Irritability.
Freitag GF, Shaughnessy S, Meigs JM … +8 more , Khosravi P, Linke JO, Evans SC, Leibenluft E, Brotman MA, Pine DS, Kircanski K, Cardinale EM
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41499007 · Publisher ↗
Phasic and tonic irritability are highly correlated clinical constructs yet differentially associated with developmental trajectories and treatment response. However, limited research has identified their shared and uniq...
Phasic and tonic irritability are highly correlated clinical constructs yet differentially associated with developmental trajectories and treatment response. However, limited research has identified their shared and unique underlying behavioral mechanisms. In a sample of youths enriched for irritability (N = 141, age range 7-18, age M[SD] = 12.60[2.54], 48.23% female), we investigated whether inhibitory control is differentially associated with phasic versus tonic irritability. Replicating prior work, tonic and phasic irritability were estimated via independent confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) using items and/or subscales from multi-informant questionnaires. A latent factor of inhibitory control was extracted from four behavioral tasks. Initial multiple linear regression analysis found that phasic, not tonic, irritability was significantly associated with impaired inhibitory control. However, results were no longer significant after accounting for shared associations with age. In addition, when adding commonly co-occurring symptoms such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and oppositionality, age and ADHD were significant predictors of inhibitory control, but phasic irritability was not. Results suggest that inhibitory control alone may not be a salient mechanism for disambiguating phasic and tonic irritability. Future work leveraging longitudinal methods and consideration of other potential contextual factors is needed.
Cognitive Training Via mHealth for Addressing OCD-related Beliefs in Adolescents: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Merchán O, Pascual-Vera B, Carratalá-Ricart L … +6 more , Saman Y, Corberán M, Arnáez S, Doron G, Roncero M, García-Soriano G
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41499006 · Publisher ↗
Adolescence is a critical period for developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, highlighting the need for preventive strategies. GGOC-AD is a newly adapted module for adolescents within the OCD.app mobile p...
Adolescence is a critical period for developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, highlighting the need for preventive strategies. GGOC-AD is a newly adapted module for adolescents within the OCD.app mobile platform, aimed at addressing maladaptive beliefs. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of GGOC-AD in the adolescent general population. A parallel two-arm pilot trial was conducted with 36 students (55.6% male; M = 16.25, SD = 0.5), of which 18 were assigned to the experimental group (using the GGOC-AD app, 14 days) and 18 to the control group (using the neutral GGN-AD app, 14 days). Participants from the experimental group were assessed after using the app for study feasibility, acceptability, and usability through self-reports and an ad-hoc interview. Furthermore, all participants were evaluated at baseline and post-intervention for OCD-related maladaptive beliefs, OC and emotional symptoms, and self-esteem. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed.The study concluded that the protocol used was feasible. Participants who used the GGOC-AD app rated it as both acceptable and usable. The preliminary efficacy results of GGOC-AD did not reveal a significant intervention effect on OC symptoms, maladaptive beliefs, emotional symptoms, or self-esteem. These findings provide valuable data for optimizing the study protocol and designing a future randomized controlled trial. This pilot study is an essential step given the critical role of usability and acceptability in driving engagement with mHealth interventions.
Longitudinal Evaluation of Adolescent Mental Illness Self-Stigma Following Psychotherapy Initiation.
McCarty RJ, Mirhosseini T, Downing ST … +2 more , Guastello AD, McNamara JPH
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41484838 · Publisher ↗
Despite ample evidence linking self-stigma of mental illness with many negative outcomes, little is known how self-stigma may manifest during psychotherapy, especially among adolescents. In this investigation, seventy-on...
Despite ample evidence linking self-stigma of mental illness with many negative outcomes, little is known how self-stigma may manifest during psychotherapy, especially among adolescents. In this investigation, seventy-one adolescents (ages 12-17), predominately female and White, who recently began treatment at an outpatient psychology clinic, completed surveys assessing self-stigma and symptom severity at five time points over a sixteen-week period. Multilevel modeling was utilized to assess outcomes in self-stigma. Results indicated that self-stigma did not decline over time, nor was there evidence of variable rate-of-change in our sample. Higher average psychological symptomatology was strongly associated with higher self-stigma. Additionally, when participants reported higher-than-usual symptoms, their self-stigma was also greater. Initial psychological symptomatology did not moderate rate of change in self-stigma. Findings of this study provide a novel understanding of adolescent mental illness self-stigma following the initiation of psychotherapy and highlight the need for clinicians to further consider self-stigma in treatment.
Independent and Interactive Connections Between Exposure to Pollution and the Development of Low-Income Boys' Antisocial Behavior.
Sieck P, Shaw DS, Miller P … +1 more , Feldman JS
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2026 Jan · PMID 41484837 · Full text
Pollution exposure is often present in high levels in disadvantaged neighborhoods and may independently confer risk for antisocial behavior (AB) and exacerbate relations between maternal depression and AB. The present st...
Pollution exposure is often present in high levels in disadvantaged neighborhoods and may independently confer risk for antisocial behavior (AB) and exacerbate relations between maternal depression and AB. The present study used multinomial logistic regression to test whether pollution exposure in early childhood (ages 0-2) and middle childhood (ages 5-12) was associated with trajectories of mother-reported AB (ages 5-11) in a sample of low-income boys (N = 218), controlling for established contextual risk factors. We also tested whether pollution moderated the association between maternal depression and AB. Pollution exposure was not directly associated with AB but did exacerbate the effects of maternal depression on AB. Results indicate pollution may impact behavioral outcomes for boys from low-income families in the context of maternal depression and suggest that more precise measures of pollution exposure are critical to use in future studies.
'Will They Have It Too?' Mothers' Perspectives of Familial Risk for Eating Disorders.
Schousboe A, Bryde A, Jørgensen MS … +1 more , Micali N
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41460452 · Publisher ↗
Children of parents with eating disorders (EDs) are at greater risk of developing an ED, likely due to an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The familial high-risk (FHR) study design offers a valuable framew...
Children of parents with eating disorders (EDs) are at greater risk of developing an ED, likely due to an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The familial high-risk (FHR) study design offers a valuable framework for studying development of EDs in individuals at increased risk over time. The study aimed to (1) to explore mothers' with EDs perspectives on the intergenerational transmission of EDs and (2) to explore mothers' with EDs perspective on FHR research related to EDs. Three focus group interviews were conducted in October and November 2023 with a total of eight mothers with a current ED, comprising groups of two, three, and three participants, respectively. All participants had a child of at least five years. Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. The first theme focused on navigating motherhood with an ED including experiences and reflections on how having an ED can impact children and had the subtheme: Communicating with children about EDs. The second theme was advancing prevention and early detection of EDs incorporating the promising impact of research on early detection of EDs and targeted preventive interventions and had two subthemes: Protecting children's emotional well-being and willingness to participate in research. Overall, mothers with EDs were deeply concerned about intergenerational transmission and the implications of disclosing their ED to their children, yet they remained highly motivated to participate in prevention research, offering valuable insights into how to engage families more effectively in ED research.
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