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Burke JD. Commentary: Optimism for the future of research on disruptive behaviors - an appreciation of good science as illustrated by Nobakht, Steinsbekk & Wichstrom (2023). J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38965661 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
This paper by Nobakht, Steinsbekk & Wichstrom (2023) is a model of good science in the study of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Their approach illustrates a thoughtful research design, statistical modeling sufficient to empirically evaluate developmental processes, and a full consideration of the theoretical implications of their work. This contrasts with a broad history of research on ODD and CD that far too often has only reified biased assumptions about these phenomena rather than rigorously scrutinizing them. Their demonstration of a unidirectional developmental flow of influence from ODD to interparental aggression, and thence to CD highlights a set of complicated developmental processes involving these disorders and their environment. It expands on evidence of the toll that ODD exerts on parents and provides guidance for more specific intervention. Standards in developmental psychopathology research should include testing bidirectional processes and employing designs that could falsify rather than reify existing beliefs. Examining key mechanisms in such processes will more rapidly generate improvements in assessment and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Burke
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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2
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Moore J, Tam LYC, Allen JL. When Being Bad Feels Good: A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Positive Emotion and Antisocial Behavior in Children and Adolescents. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s10567-024-00493-4. [PMID: 38961029 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00493-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Antisocial behavior in childhood and adolescence is associated with poor family and peer relationships, and a higher risk of mental and physical health problems in adulthood, as well as criminality. Emotions play a central role in children's moral development, but most research has focused on negative emotions (e.g., shame and guilt), in relation to childhood antisocial behavior. Research in adult populations indicates that positive emotions experienced in anticipation of, during, and after antisocial acts may play an important role in the development and maintenance of antisocial behavior. Consequently, this systematic review aimed to investigate the relationship between positive emotion and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. A systematic search in five databases was conducted, yielding 52 studies that used different methodological approaches, samples, designs and methods to examine this association. Results provide support for a positive relationship between positive emotion and antisocial behavior across community, forensic and clinical samples. This link appeared to be stronger for younger children, boys, and for children high in social dominance, callous-unemotional or sensation-seeking traits. Results suggested that positive affect may act in concert with negative emotion, cognitive, personality and motivational processes, as well as peer influences to determine the initiation and maintenance of antisocial behavior. This review presents directions for future research and discusses the implications of findings for prevention and intervention programs for youth with antisocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Moore
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, 10 West, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Lok Yee Chloe Tam
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, 10 West, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jennifer L Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, 10 West, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
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Koerner S, Staginnus M, Cornwell H, Smaragdi A, González-Madruga K, Pauli R, Rogers JC, Gao Y, Chester S, Townend S, Bernhard A, Martinelli A, Kohls G, Raschle NM, Konrad K, Stadler C, Freitag CM, De Brito SA, Fairchild G. Does the Relationship between Age and Brain Structure Differ in Youth with Conduct Disorder? Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:1135-1146. [PMID: 38557727 PMCID: PMC11217071 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01178-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Conduct disorder (CD) is characterised by persistent antisocial and aggressive behaviour and typically emerges in childhood or adolescence. Although several authors have proposed that CD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, very little evidence is available about brain development in this condition. Structural brain alterations have been observed in CD, and some indirect evidence for delayed brain maturation has been reported. However, no detailed analysis of age-related changes in brain structure in youth with CD has been conducted. Using cross-sectional MRI data, this study aimed to explore differences in brain maturation in youth with CD versus healthy controls to provide further understanding of the neurodevelopmental processes underlying CD. 291 CD cases (153 males) and 379 healthy controls (160 males) aged 9-18 years (Mage = 14.4) were selected from the European multisite FemNAT-CD study. Structural MRI scans were analysed using surface-based morphometry followed by application of the ENIGMA quality control protocols. An atlas-based approach was used to investigate group differences and test for group-by-age and group-by-age-by-sex interactions in cortical thickness, surface area and subcortical volumes. Relative to healthy controls, the CD group showed lower surface area across frontal, temporal and parietal regions as well as lower total surface area. No significant group-by-age or group-by-age-by-sex interactions were observed on any brain structure measure. These findings suggest that CD is associated with lower surface area across multiple cortical regions, but do not support the idea that CD is associated with delayed brain maturation, at least within the age bracket considered here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Koerner
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Ruth Pauli
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jack C Rogers
- Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yidian Gao
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sally Chester
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Anka Bernhard
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Anne Martinelli
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
- School of Psychology, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gregor Kohls
- Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nora Maria Raschle
- Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Centre Zurich (ZNZ), University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Konrad
- Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- JARA- Brain Institute II, Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, RWTH Aachen and Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
| | - Christina Stadler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christine M Freitag
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Stephane A De Brito
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Kurushi R, Omer M, Hussein O, Ali M, Ibn Auf A. Synergistic Interventions for Silencing Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Dyslexia in a Child With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Report From Albania. Cureus 2024; 16:e61753. [PMID: 38975431 PMCID: PMC11227429 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this article is the first of its kind in Albania and neighboring countries to investigate the transformative synergistic intervention approach through cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and heavy metal detoxification on a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and dyslexia. The limited mental health awareness in Albania, particularly regarding PCIT and similar treatments, highlights the importance of the applicability and adaptability of such interventions. This study suggests that the rapid management of comorbidities in ADHD, such as ODD and dyslexia, is better achieved by a combined intervention approach and by investigating the biological aspects. Further research with a large sample size is needed to assess the long-term sustainability and scalability of such an approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rigels Kurushi
- Medicine, Sulaiman Alrajhi University, Al Bukayriyah, SAU
- Executive Department, ADHD Hyperactivity Albania Foundation, Tirana, ALB
| | - Mohamed Omer
- Medicine, Sulaiman Alrajhi University, Al Bukayriyah, SAU
| | - Omer Hussein
- Psychiatry, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Majid Ali
- Medicine, Sulaiman Alrajhi University, Al Bukayriyah, SAU
| | - Anas Ibn Auf
- Psychiatry, Erada and Mental Health Complex, Taif, SAU
- Psychiatry, Eastern Sudan College for Medical Sciences and Technology, Port Sudan, SDN
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Adams RA, Zor C, Mihalik A, Tsirlis K, Brudfors M, Chapman J, Ashburner J, Paulus MP, Mourão-Miranda J. Voxelwise Multivariate Analysis of Brain-Psychosocial Associations in Adolescents Reveals 6 Latent Dimensions of Cognition and Psychopathology. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00085-5. [PMID: 38588854 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence heralds the onset of considerable psychopathology, which may be conceptualized as an emergence of altered covariation between symptoms and brain measures. Multivariate methods can detect such modes of covariation or latent dimensions, but none specifically relating to psychopathology have yet been found using population-level structural brain data. Using voxelwise (instead of parcellated) brain data may strengthen latent dimensions' brain-psychosocial relationships, but this creates computational challenges. METHODS We obtained voxelwise gray matter density and psychosocial variables from the baseline (ages 9-10 years) Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort (N = 11,288) and employed a state-of-the-art segmentation method, sparse partial least squares, and a rigorous machine learning framework to prevent overfitting. RESULTS We found 6 latent dimensions, 4 of which pertain specifically to mental health. The mental health dimensions were related to overeating, anorexia/internalizing, oppositional symptoms (all ps < .002) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms (p = .03). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was related to increased and internalizing symptoms related to decreased gray matter density in dopaminergic and serotonergic midbrain areas, whereas oppositional symptoms were related to increased gray matter in a noradrenergic nucleus. Internalizing symptoms were related to increased and oppositional symptoms to reduced gray matter density in the insular, cingulate, and auditory cortices. Striatal regions featured strongly, with reduced caudate nucleus gray matter in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and reduced putamen gray matter in oppositional/conduct problems. Voxelwise gray matter density generated stronger brain-psychosocial correlations than brain parcellations. CONCLUSIONS Voxelwise brain data strengthen latent dimensions of brain-psychosocial covariation, and sparse multivariate methods increase their psychopathological specificity. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms are associated with opposite gray matter changes in similar cortical and subcortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick A Adams
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Cemre Zor
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Agoston Mihalik
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Tsirlis
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mikael Brudfors
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Chapman
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Ashburner
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Janaina Mourão-Miranda
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Evans SC, Shaughnessy S. Emotion regulation as central to psychopathology across childhood and adolescence: a commentary on Nobakht et al. (2023). J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:354-357. [PMID: 37919859 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
An important goal of clinical/developmental research is to identify factors contributing to the onset and maintenance of psychopathology - particularly factors that could be modified through intervention. Large-scale, multi-informant, longitudinal studies provide valuable opportunities for testing such etiological hypotheses, as illustrated by Nobakht et al.'s recent six-wave cohort study spanning ages 4-14. At a within-person level, emotion regulation (ER) deficits consistently predicted oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms (including both irritability and defiance), whereas victimization did not. These results comport with growing evidence highlighting ER's centrality to ODD and psychopathology more broadly. While the ER findings carry promising implications, caution is warranted in interpreting the results for victimization given that its association with psychopathology is well-documented. More research is needed to test precise questions about within- and between-person processes involving ER, victimization, and psychopathology across development. Pressing research questions include whether, how, and when youths' ER can be modified, and with what effects on clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C Evans
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Evans SC, Karlovich AR, Khurana S, Edelman A, Buza B, Riddle W, López-Sosa D. Evidence Base Update on the Assessment of Irritability, Anger, and Aggression in Youth. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2024; 53:277-308. [PMID: 38275270 PMCID: PMC11042996 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2023.2292041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Irritability, anger, and aggression have garnered significant attention from youth mental health researchers and clinicians; however, fundamental challenges of conceptualization and measurement persist. This article reviews the evidence base for assessing these transdiagnostic constructs in children and adolescents. METHOD We conducted a preregistered systematic review of the evidence behind instruments used to measure irritability, anger, aggression, and related problems in youth. Searches were conducted in PsycINFO and PubMed, identifying 4,664 unique articles. Eligibility criteria focused on self- and proxy-report measures with peer-reviewed psychometric evidence from studies in English with youths ages 3-18. Additional measures were found through ancillary search strategies (e.g. book chapters, review articles, test publishers). Measures were screened and coded by multiple raters with acceptable reliability. RESULTS Overall, 68 instruments met criteria for inclusion, with scales covering irritability (n = 15), anger (n = 19), aggression (n = 45), and/or general overt externalizing problems (n = 27). Regarding overall psychometric support, 6 measures (8.8%) were classified as Excellent, 46 (67.6%) were Good, and 16 (23.5%) were Adequate. Descriptive information (e.g. informants, scales, availability, translations) and psychometric properties (e.g. reliability, validity, norms) are summarized. CONCLUSIONS Numerous instruments for youth irritability, anger, and aggression exist with varying degrees of empirical support for specific applications. Although some measures were especially strong, none had uniformly excellent properties across all dimensions, signaling the need for further research in particular areas. Findings promote conceptual clarity while also producing a well-characterized toolkit for researchers and clinicians addressing transdiagnostic problems affecting youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C. Evans
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | | | - Sakshi Khurana
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- College of Education, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Audrey Edelman
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bianca Buza
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - William Riddle
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Denise López-Sosa
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Hawes DJ. Ten recommendations for reducing the long-term costs of conduct problems: A commentary on the economic analysis of Goulter et al. (2023). J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:340-342. [PMID: 37850731 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
The economic analysis of Goulter et al. (2023) identifies the long-term financial costs arising from conduct problems in the kindergarten period, including those associated with later criminal activity, lost offender productivity, victim costs and government and medical services. These costs are substantial and provide policymakers with a compelling argument for investing in early intervention and prevention of conduct problems. The ultimate goal of reducing the long-term costs of early conduct problems is likely to be achieved only through the coordinated efforts of many stakeholders and diverse courses of action. Outlined here are 10 recommendations for investment that in my view would support progress towards this outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Evans SC, Burke JD. The Affective Side of Disruptive Behavior: Toward Better Understanding, Assessment, and Treatment. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2024; 53:141-155. [PMID: 38656139 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2333008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Historically, much of the progress made in youth mental health research can be classified as focusing on externalizing problems, characterized by disruptive behavior (e.g. aggression, defiance), or internalizing problems, characterized by intense negative affect (e.g. depression, anxiety). Until recently, however, less attention has been given to topics that lie somewhere in between these domains, topics that we collectively refer to as the affective side of disruptive behavior. Like the far side of the moon, the affective side of disruptive behavior captures facets of the phenomenon that may be less obvious or commonly overlooked, but are nonetheless critical to understand. This affective side clarifies socially disruptive aspects of traditionally "externalizing" behavior by elucidating proximal causation via intense negative affect (traditionally "internalizing"). Such problems include irritability, frustration, anger, temper loss, emotional outbursts, and reactive aggression. Given a recent explosion of research in these areas, efforts toward integration are now needed. This special issue was developed to help address this need. Beyond the present introductory article, this collection includes 4 empirical articles on developmental psychopathology topics, 4 empirical articles on applied treatment/assessment topics, 1 evidence base update review article on measurement, and 2 future directions review articles concerning outbursts, mood, dispositions, and youth psychopathology more broadly. By deliberatively investigating the affective side of disruptive behavior, we hope these articles will help bring about better understanding, assessment, and treatment of these challenging problems, for the benefit of youth and families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey D Burke
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut
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10
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Hawes DJ. Commentary: Early intervention for conduct problems as a child protection strategy - reflections on Nobakht et al. (2023). J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38425092 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including child maltreatment and interparental aggression, are known to have far-reaching consequences for mental health across the lifespan. Emerging evidence, such as that reported by Nobakht et al. (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2023), indicates that child conduct problems (e.g. oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) may not only result from adversity but also contribute to it through transactional cascades that amplify risk for adversity over time. This commentary addresses some of the key implications of this evidence for translation into practice. It is argued that child conduct problems can be viewed as modifiable determinants of adversity and that the early identification and treatment of child conduct problems may allow for the early identification and reduction of risk for numerous ACEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Barker JM, Hawes DJ. Practitioner Review: A core competencies perspective on the evidence-based treatment of child conduct problems. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:124-136. [PMID: 37614104 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effective treatment of child conduct problems is understood to rely on a range of therapist competencies, yet these have rarely been an explicit focus of research. In this practitioner review, we examine core competencies for the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions for conduct problems in early-to-middle childhood. These are examined in light of research into the common elements shared by these interventions, literature regarding common challenges in these interventions, and conceptualisations of such competencies in other fields of mental health. METHODS We report on the development of a novel consensus-based model of core competencies for evidence-based practice in this field, based on consultation with an international expert panel. This includes competencies as they apply to complex presentations of conduct problems. RESULTS Despite considerable variation among widely disseminated programmes in terms of content, format and skills-training practices, there is strong consensus among practitioners regarding core competencies. These relate to three broad domains: (a) generic therapeutic competencies; (b) parenting intervention competencies; (c) specific parenting skills/techniques. CONCLUSIONS Practitioners working with conduct problems, particularly complex presentations thereof, require competencies for engaging not only mothers, but fathers and diverse/non-traditional caregivers and other stakeholders, in evidence-based parenting interventions. Moreover, the successful delivery of these interventions necessitates competencies that extend beyond behaviour management and encompass broader aspects of the family system and the wider ecology of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Barker
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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