Category: Research

PMHA Winter Meeting 2023 – Reminder Call for Abstracts for Poster Presentations

On By carolinedecatesIn Events, Research, TrainingLeave a comment

The Paediatric Mental Health Association invites trainees in Paediatrics, Psychiatry, General Practice, and Emergency Medicine to submit abstracts for our Annual Winter Meeting. 

Trainees can present their audits, research, or quality improvement projects. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your work in the area of child mental health and to share best practice with interested professionals from around the country. Three abstracts will also be selected for oral presentation on Day Two of the meeting (27th January). 

These need to be submitted by December 16th at the latest.

To submit an abstract, please click here to download a template, and then email your completed abstract to PMHAtrainees@gmail.com by December 16th at the latest. Your abstract will be reviewed by members of the PMHA Executive Committee and you will be notified of acceptance by the 20th of December.

We look forward to receiving your abstracts and to welcoming you to our meeting in January!

Editorial Perspective: Rapid responses to understand and address children and young people’s mental health in the context of COVID-19

On By carolinedecatesIn Resources, Research, TrainingLeave a comment

The following article by Cathy Creswell was recently published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry:

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Abstract

Prior to the pandemic, we already had good reason to be concerned about the mental health of children and young people. As an example, the 2017 Mental Health of Children and Young People (MHCYP) survey in England, comprising a large, national probability sample, identified that one in nine children had a probable mental health disorder, with a 49% increase in emotional disorders compared to a previous survey in 2004 (Sadler et al., 2018). The pandemic has clearly brought a broad range of challenges to children and young people. These include the direct viral threat to self, friends, and family (with recent estimates of a 17.5%–20.2% increase in parental bereavement in the United States; Kidman et al, 2021), as well as disruptions to school work, social interactions, family pressures, economic impacts, a lack of opportunity and ongoing uncertainty, and reduced access to mental health and other support from outside the home. So how have these experiences affected the mental health of children and young people?

Click here to read the full article

Adverse childhood experiences: what support do young people need?

On By Paediatric Mental Health AssociationIn Ideas, Reports, Research, Resources, TrainingLeave a comment

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) recently published an interested article about supporting children who have had adverse experiences:

“Recent NIHR research aims to improve the lives of children and young people exposed to adverse childhood experiences. It identifies the types of support young people feel they need from services, and offers ways to support the mental health of children in care and those adopted from care…”

Click here to read more.

Research highlight

On By ik285In Research, Resources, TrainingLeave a comment

Surveillance methodology has been widely used in paediatrics (British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, BPSU) and psychiatry (Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Surveillance System, CAPSS) to provide epidemiological data on conditions of interest. This study aimed to investigate the degree to which community paediatricians are involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) with mental health conditions, with implications for the surveillance of these conditions.

The authors concluded that community paediatricians are most involved in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and that joint BPSU and CAPSS surveillance would be recommended for these disorders. Whilst community paediatricians are also involved in the care of CYP with emotional difficulties, often due to limited access to CAMHS, it was felt that the decision for single or joint surveillance should be made after consideration of all relevant factors. The authors also highlighted the urgent need to expand CAMHS services in order to provide support for CYP with emotional difficulties, who are currently being managed by community paediatricians.

Involvement of community paediatricians in the care of children and young people with mental health difficulties in the UK: implications for case ascertainment by child and adolescent psychiatric, and paediatric surveillance systems

Ayyash HF, Ogundele MO, Lynn RM, et al. Involvement of community paediatricians in the care of children and young people with mental health difficulties in the UK: implications for case ascertainment by child and adolescent psychiatric, and paediatric surveillance systems. BMJ Paediatrics Open 2021;5:e000713. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000713

Follow this link to read the full paper.

Research highlight

On By ik285In Research, ResourcesLeave a comment

The bidirectional interplay between physical and mental health is well recognised, and yet the research methodology used to study the impact of childhood chronic illness on mental health outcomes has in the past often been suboptimal. A recently published longitudinal study aimed to remediate this by using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to explore the relationship between chronic childhood illness and adolescent psychiatric disorders, including possible mediating factors, in children aged between 10 and 15 years.

One of the main study findings was that a high level of health-related school absenteeism was the most consistent predictor of mental health problems in adolescents. While there are multiple possible explanations for this, it nevertheless provides an important and interesting insight into the impact of chronic illness on a child’s life and health outcomes.  

Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: a longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness

Brady AM, Deighton J, Stansfeld S. Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness. Dev Psychopathol. 2021 Aug;33(3):885-898. doi: 10.1017/S0954579420000206. PMID: 32362290.

Follow this link to read the full paper.

Research highlight

On By ik285In Research, ResourcesLeave a comment

Secure parent-infant relationships are a crucial factor in ensuring good mental and physical wellbeing throughout life. The Parent-Infant Foundation recently published this report, which includes a summary of qualitative and quantitative research conducted with parents, focusing on the parent-infant relationship.

Here are some of the key research findings, but do follow this link to read the full report (page 25-29 for the parent research).

  • Parents ranked the parent-infant relationship as the third most important influence on child development, below the impact of domestic violence and parental drug use.
  • 50% of parents thought there was not enough support available for developing the parent-infant relationship.
  • The fear of judgement and stigma are barriers to parents seeking support with their parent-infant relationship.

Securing Healthy Lives: An extended summary of research about parent-infant relationship help and support across Cwm Taf Morgannwg

Bateson DK., Sercombe M., Hamilton W. Securing Healthy Lives: An extended summary of research about parent-infant relationship help and support across Cwm Taf Morgannwg. Parent-Infant Foundation. December 2021.

Research highlight

On By ik285In Education, Research, ResourcesLeave a comment

Findings of the CLoCK study were published last week in the Lancet, outlining the physical and mental symptoms experienced by children and young people 3 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Researchers compared symptoms at baseline and 3 months between young people who tested positive for COVID versus those who tested negative.

Interestingly, the mental health, wellbeing, and fatigue scores were similar in the two groups. Striking, however, is the high proportion (about 40%) of children and young people who felt worried, sad or unhappy irrespective of whether they had COVID. Perhaps it reflects the fact that they have all been living through the pandemic’s isolation and school closures.  

Physical and mental health 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) among adolescents in England (CLoCk): a national matched cohort study

Stephenson T, Pereira SMP, Shafran R, et al. Physical and mental health 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) among adolescents in England (CLoCk): a national matched cohort study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00022-0  

Follow this link to read the full paper.

PMHA Webinar 16: Functional Neurological Disorders

On By ToksSanwoIn Events, Research, Resources, TrainingLeave a comment

The next PMHA webinar will take place on Monday 21st February at 7.30pm. The topic of this webinar is ‘Functional Neurological Disorders ’ and it will be delivered by Dr Matthew Butler, academic Neuropsychiatrist at King’s College London

To book a place at the webinar, please click here.

Please sign up using your professional email address (@nhs.net or nhs.uk) and we will contact you when your registration has been approved.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Don’t miss the PMHA Annual Meeting (online) this week: January 27th and 28th

On By Paediatric Mental Health AssociationIn Events, News, Research, Resources, TrainingLeave a comment

It’s not too late to book!

To view the programme, click here.

The online meeting is a great opportunity to network with other professionals working in paediatrics and mental health, and to update yourself on the latest research and developments in the field.

If you have not already booked for the meeting, there is still time to do so. Members of the PMHA can attend at a special discounted price.

Click here for more information and to register.

Updated Annual Meeting Programme

On By nolczakIn Events, News, Research, Resources, TrainingLeave a comment

We have just updated the programme for the PMHA Annual Winter Meeting 2022 (January 27th and 28th), adding more great speakers and sessions to the line up.

To view the updated programme, click here.

The online meeting is a great opportunity to network with other professionals working in paediatrics and mental health, and to update yourself on the latest research and developments in the field.

If you have not already booked for the meeting, there is still time to do so. Members of the PMHA can attend at a special discounted price.

Click here for more information and to register.