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Lanais K, Gnanamanickam E, Maclean M, Segal L. Investigating the impact of Out-of-Home Care on early childhood development. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 154:106856. [PMID: 38850748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early childhood development is influential for life course capability. Children exposed to child maltreatment and at high risk of harm may be removed for their safety, but the effect on child development is uncertain. OBJECTIVES To assess developmental vulnerability at school commencement across five developmental domains to ascertain whether removal of children with substantiated maltreatment to foster/kinship care is likely protective, or not, of developmental vulnerabilities. METHODS The study drew on linked-data for a South Australian population birth cohort (2003 to 2014) N = 74,751. For children exposed to substantiated child maltreatment meeting study criteria (N = 2011, mean age = 5.7 years, 50.7 % boys), the effect of placement in foster/kinship care (N = 666) on developmental vulnerability was explored using generalized linear models, adjusted for child and family covariates, maltreatment severity and propensity score. RESULTS Children placed in care had a reduced risk of developmental vulnerability on the Physical Health and Wellbeing (aRR = 0.73 [0.64, 0.84]), Language and Cognitive Skills (school based) (aRR = 0.79 [0.68, 0.92]), and Communication Skills and General Knowledge (aRR = 0.81 [0.70, 0.94]) domains, compared to children who were not removed. However, these children had increased risk of vulnerability on Social Competence (aRR = 1.14 [1.01, 1.29]) and Emotional Maturity (aRR = 1.20 [1.05, 1.37]) domains. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest placement in out-of-home care supported physical health and wellbeing, communication and cognitive but not social and emotional early childhood development. These results highlighting the need for professional therapeutic support for children in care and better attending to the physical development, communication and cognitive skills in maltreated children remaining at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Lanais
- Health Economics and Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Emmanuel Gnanamanickam
- Health Economics and Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Miriam Maclean
- Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Leonie Segal
- Health Economics and Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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Green MJ, Watkeys OJ, Harris F, O'Hare K, Whitten T, Tzoumakis S, Laurens KR, Carpendale EJ, Dean K, Carr VJ. Cohort Profile Update: The New South Wales Child Development Study (NSW-CDS) - Wave 3 (child age ∼18 years). Int J Epidemiol 2024; 53:dyae069. [PMID: 38796754 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyae069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Green
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Oliver J Watkeys
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kirstie O'Hare
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tyson Whitten
- Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma J Carpendale
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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3
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Harris F, Dean K, Watkeys OJ, Laurens KR, Tzoumakis S, Carr VJ, Green MJ. Conditions of Birth and Early Childhood Developmental Risk for Mental Disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01549-2. [PMID: 37270433 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01549-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Distinct classes of children in the general population are at increased odds of later mental illness and other adverse outcomes according to patterns of early childhood developmental vulnerability. If certain risk factors known at the time of birth are reliably associated with membership in early childhood risk classes, then preventative interventions could be initiated in the earliest years of life. Associations between 14 factors known at the time of birth and membership in early childhood risk classes were examined in 66,464 children. Risk class membership was associated with maternal mental illness, parental criminal charges and being male; distinct patterns of association were shown for some conditions, for example, prenatal child protection notification was uniquely associated with misconduct risk'. These findings suggest that risk factors known at the time of birth could assist in very early detection of children who may benefit from early intervention in the first 2000 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Harris
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Justice Health & Forensic Mental Network, Matraville, NSW, Australia
| | - Oliver J Watkeys
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Carey E, Healy C, Perry Y, Gillan D, Whitehouse AJO, Cannon M, Lin A. Evidence that infant and early childhood developmental impairments are associated with hallucinatory experiences: results from a large, population-based cohort study. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2116-2124. [PMID: 34583789 PMCID: PMC10106299 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive and motor dysfunction are hallmark features of the psychosis continuum, and have been detected during late childhood and adolescence in youth who report psychotic experiences (PE). However, previous investigations have not explored infancy and early childhood development. It remains unclear whether such deficits emerge much earlier in life, and whether they are associated with psychotic, specifically hallucinatory, experiences (HE). METHODS This study included data from Gen2 participants of The Raine Study (n = 1101), a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Western Australia. Five areas of childhood development comprising: communication; fine motor; gross motor; adaptive (problem-solving); and personal-social skills, were assessed serially at ages 1, 2 and 3 years. Information on HE, depression and anxiety at ages 10, 14 and 17 years was obtained. HE were further subdivided into those with transient or recurrent experiences. Mixed effects logistic regression models and cumulative risk analyses based on multiple domain delays were performed. RESULTS Early poorer development in multiple areas was noted from ages 1, 2 and 3 years among youth who reported HE. Early developmental delays significantly increased the risk for later HE. This association was particularly marked in the recurrent HE group, with over 40% having early developmental delays in multiple domains. There was no significant association between early childhood development and later anxiety/depression apart from lower gross motor scores at age 3. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that early pan-developmental deficits are associated with later HE, with the effect strongest for young people who report recurrent HE throughout childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Carey
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm Healy
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yael Perry
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Diane Gillan
- Department of Psychology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ashleigh Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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5
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Soneson E, Das S, Burn AM, van Melle M, Anderson JK, Fazel M, Fonagy P, Ford T, Gilbert R, Harron K, Howarth E, Humphrey A, Jones PB, Moore A. Leveraging Administrative Data to Better Understand and Address Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Review of Data Linkage Studies. CHILD MALTREATMENT 2023; 28:176-195. [PMID: 35240863 PMCID: PMC9806482 DOI: 10.1177/10775595221079308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This scoping review aimed to overview studies that used administrative data linkage in the context of child maltreatment to improve our understanding of the value that data linkage may confer for policy, practice, and research. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ERIC electronic databases in June 2019 and May 2020 for studies that linked two or more datasets (at least one of which was administrative in nature) to study child maltreatment. We report findings with numerical and narrative summary. RESULTS We included 121 studies, mainly from the United States or Australia and published in the past decade. Data came primarily from social services and health sectors, and linkage processes and data quality were often not described in sufficient detail to align with current reporting guidelines. Most studies were descriptive in nature and research questions addressed fell under eight themes: descriptive epidemiology, risk factors, outcomes, intergenerational transmission, predictive modelling, intervention/service evaluation, multi-sector involvement, and methodological considerations/advancements. CONCLUSIONS Included studies demonstrated the wide variety of ways in which data linkage can contribute to the public health response to child maltreatment. However, how research using linked data can be translated into effective service development and monitoring, or targeting of interventions, is underexplored in terms of privacy protection, ethics and governance, data quality, and evidence of effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Soneson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shruti Das
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anne-Marie Burn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marije van Melle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Mina Fazel
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruth Gilbert
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katie Harron
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Howarth
- School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Ayla Humphrey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter B. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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6
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Harris F, Dean K, Laurens KR, Tzoumakis S, Carr VJ, Green MJ. Regional mapping of early childhood risk for mental disorders in an Australian population sample. Early Interv Psychiatry 2022; 16:1269-1277. [PMID: 35393743 PMCID: PMC10946838 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
AIM Population-level profiles of risk for later childhood mental disorders have been identified in patterns of early developmental vulnerabilities using Australian Early Developmental Census. We sought to demonstrate the geographical distribution of these early childhood risk profiles for mental illness, to inform policy decisions for place-sensitive provision of health and allied services. METHODS Using geographic information system techniques, we mapped the regional percentage of children at highest risk for mental disorders across the state of New South Wales (NSW), according to Local Government Areas, for 82 891 children in the NSW Child Development Study. RESULTS A high proportion (>10%) of children at risk of later mental disorders were located in regional and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, with a few metropolitan regions showing similarly high proportions of the population at risk. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the potential to identify place-sensitive needs for early intervention and prevention programs for emerging mental health problems in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Harris
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Justice Health & Forensic Mental NetworkMatravilleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Kristin Robyn Laurens
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Psychology and CounsellingQueensland University of Technology (QUT)BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Criminology and Criminal JusticeGriffith UniversitySouthportQueenslandAustralia
| | - Vaughan James Carr
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Department of PsychiatryMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Melissa Jayne Green
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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7
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Leonard H, Whitehouse A, Jacoby P, Benke T, Demarest S, Saldaris J, Wong K, Reddihough D, Williams K, Downs J. Quality of life beyond diagnosis in intellectual disability - Latent profiling. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 129:104322. [PMID: 35939908 PMCID: PMC9792277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare quality of life (QOL) across diagnoses associated with intellectual disability, construct QOL profiles and evaluate membership by diagnostic group, function and comorbidities. METHOD Primary caregivers of 526 children with intellectual disability (age 5-18 years) and a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, CDKL5 deficiency disorder or Rett syndrome completed the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) questionnaire. Latent profile analysis of the QI-Disability domain scores was conducted. RESULTS The mean (SD) total QOL score was 67.8 (13.4), ranging from 60.3 (14.6) for CDD to 77.5 (11.7) for Down syndrome. Three classes describing domain scores were identified: Class 1 was characterised by higher domain scores overall but poorer negative emotions scores; Class 2 by average to high scores for most domains but low independence scores; and Class 3 was characterised by low positive emotions, social interaction, and leisure and the outdoors scores, and extremely low independence scores. The majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome belonged to Class 1 and the majority with CDKL5 deficiency disorder belonged to Class 3. Those with better functional abilities (verbal communication and independent walking were predominately members of Class 1 and those with frequent seizures were more often members of Class 2 and 3. CONCLUSION The profiles illustrated variation in QOL across a diverse group of children. QOL evaluations illustrate areas where interventions could improve QOL and provide advice to families as to where efforts may be best directed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Leonard
- Telethon Kids Institute, Child Disability, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, CliniKids Autism Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter Jacoby
- Telethon Kids Institute, Child Disability, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tim Benke
- Children's Hospital Colorado, Paediatric Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Scott Demarest
- Children's Hospital Colorado, Paediatric Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jacinta Saldaris
- Telethon Kids Institute, Child Disability, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kingsley Wong
- Telethon Kids Institute, Child Disability, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Dinah Reddihough
- Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Paediatric Education and Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Developmental Paediatrics, Monash Children's Hospital, Australia
| | - Jenny Downs
- Telethon Kids Institute, Child Disability, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Curtin University, School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Whitten T, Green MJ, Tzoumakis S, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ, Dean K. Early developmental vulnerabilities following exposure to domestic violence and abuse: Findings from an Australian population cohort record linkage study. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 153:223-228. [PMID: 35841818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Early life exposure to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) is associated with poor psychosocial and cognitive development in childhood. However, most prior research uses mother-reported involvement in DVA as a proxy indicator of child exposure; studies using direct measures of child exposure to DVA are scarce, especially among representative population-based samples. We address this gap by using longitudinal, population-based data from an Australian record linkage study of children to examine the associations between early life exposure to DVA and early childhood developmental vulnerability. Exposure to DVA was measured using police contact records for children involved in a DVA incident either as a victim or witness. Developmental vulnerability at school entry was measured using the Australian Early Development Census, providing indices of five broad domains of function and person-centred classes of developmental risk (referred to as 'mild generalized risk', 'misconduct risk', and 'pervasive risk', each compared to a group showing 'no risk'). Children exposed to DVA showed significantly greater odds of developmental vulnerability on all five domains and were more likely to be members of the three developmental risk classes. Girls who were victims of DVA (OR = 1.65) had significantly poorer developmental outcomes than boys who were victims (OR = 1.26) within the domain of communication skills and general knowledge (d = 0.29 [SE = 0.16], p = .04). No other sex differences were found. These preliminary findings hold important implications for policy regarding the early intervention and implementation of support services for young children exposed to DVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyson Whitten
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia; School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Napier Building, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | - Melissa J Green
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, 139 Barker Street, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Parkland Drive, Southport, QLD, 4125, Australia; Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mount Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia; Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, 139 Barker Street, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Level 3 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Botany Street, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia; Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Matraville, NSW, 5005, Australia
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9
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Watkeys OJ, O'Hare K, Dean K, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ, Green MJ. Early childhood developmental vulnerability associated with parental mental disorder comorbidity. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022:48674221116806. [PMID: 35999694 DOI: 10.1177/00048674221116806] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Parental mental health has a profound influence on the mental health and well-being of their offspring. With comorbid mental disorders generally the rule rather than the exception, increased knowledge of the impact of parental mental disorder comorbidity on early child development may facilitate improved targeting and delivery of early intervention for vulnerable offspring. METHODS Participants were 66,154 children and their parents in the New South Wales Child Development Study - a prospective, longitudinal, record-linkage study of a population cohort of children born in NSW between 2002 and 2004. Early childhood developmental vulnerability was assessed at age ~5 years using the Australian Early Development Census, and information on parental mental disorders was obtained from administrative health records. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between parental mental disorders and early childhood developmental vulnerability on emotional and behavioural domains, as well as membership of latent developmental risk classes reflecting particular classes of vulnerability. RESULTS Multiple diagnoses of mental disorders in mothers and fathers were associated with an increased likelihood of early childhood emotional and behavioural developmental vulnerability in offspring, relative to parents without mental disorder. The likelihood of offspring vulnerability increased with the number of parental comorbidities, particularly maternal comorbidities. CONCLUSION Early childhood developmental vulnerability was strongly associated with parental mental ill-health, with the strength of associations increasing in line with a greater number of mental disorder diagnoses among mothers and fathers. New and expectant parents diagnosed with multiple mental disorders should be prioritised for intervention, including attention to the developmental well-being of their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Watkeys
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kirstie O'Hare
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Justice Health & Forensic Mental Network, Matraville, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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10
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Green MJ, Watkeys OJ, Kariuki M, Hindmarsh G, Whitten T, Dean K, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ. Forecasting childhood adversities from conditions of birth. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022; 36:230-242. [PMID: 35107846 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childbirth presents an optimal time for identifying high-risk families to commence intervention that could avert various childhood health and social adversities. OBJECTIVE We sought to establish the minimum set of exposures required to accurately predict a range of adverse childhood outcomes up to the age of 13 years, from a set of 14 individual and familial risk exposures evident at the time of birth. METHODS Participants were 72,059 Australian children and their parents drawn from a multi-register population cohort study (data spanning 1994-2018). Risk exposures included male sex, young mother (aged ≤21 years), no (or late first; >16 weeks) antenatal visit, maternal smoking during pregnancy, small for gestational age, preterm birth, pregnancy complications (any of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia), >2 previous pregnancies of ≥20 weeks, socio-economic disadvantage, prenatal child protection notification, and maternal or paternal mental disorder or criminal offending history. Individual outcomes included early childhood developmental vulnerability (age 5 years), sustained educational underachievement (age 8 and 10 years), mental disorder diagnoses, substantiated childhood maltreatment, and contact with the police as a victim or person-of-interest up to age 13-14 years. RESULTS Risk exposures at birth predicted individual childhood outcomes with fair to excellent accuracy: the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves ranged between 0.60 (95% CI 0.58, 0.62) for childhood mental disorder and 0.83 (95% CI 0.82, 0.85) for substantiated child maltreatment. The presence of five or more exposures characterised 12-25% of children with one or more adverse outcomes and showed high predictive certainty for models predicting multiple outcomes, which were apparent in 9% of the population. CONCLUSIONS Up to a quarter of the neonatal population at risk of multiple adverse outcomes can be detected at birth, with implications for population health screening. However, cautious implementation of these models is warranted, given their relatively low positive predictive values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Oliver J Watkeys
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maina Kariuki
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Hindmarsh
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tyson Whitten
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Justice Health & Forensic Mental Network, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Thomson KC, Richardson CG, Samji H, Dove N, Olsson CA, Schonert-Reichl KA, Shoveller J, Gadermann AM, Guhn M. Early childhood social-emotional profiles associated with middle childhood internalizing and wellbeing. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Dean K, Whitten T, Tzoumakis S, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ, Green MJ. Incidence of Early Police Contact Among Children With Emerging Mental Health Problems in Australia. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2112057. [PMID: 34156455 PMCID: PMC8220465 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.12057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In adulthood and adolescence, mental health vulnerability is known to be associated with risk of criminal justice system contact as both a perpetrator and survivor of crime, but whether this association is apparent early in child development is unknown. Prevention of poor outcomes, including repeated contact with the criminal justice system, relies on the identification of vulnerability early in life and at the start of such contact. OBJECTIVE To ascertain whether children with emotional or behavioral problems and general developmental vulnerabilities are at an increased risk of subsequent contact with police as a person of interest, a survivor of crime, or a witness. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study used routinely collected data from the New South Wales Child Development Study in Australia. The cohort was composed of children who entered full-time schooling in New South Wales in 2009, had complete data for the emotional maturity domain of the Australian Early Development Census, and had no police contact before January 1, 2009. The children in the cohort were followed up until the age of 13 years. Data were analyzed from October 17, 2019, to May 13, 2020. EXPOSURES Emotional or behavioral problems and developmental risk profiles derived from the teacher-rated Australian Early Development Census. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incidence rates of police contact (as a person of interest, survivor of crime, or witness) were derived from the New South Wales Police Force Computerised Operational Policing System. RESULTS A total of 79 801 children (40 584 boys [50.9%]; 2009 mean [SD] age, 5.2 [0.37] years) were included. Children with teacher-identified emotional or behavioral problems at school entry had an incidence rate of police contact (for any reason) that was twice that of children without such problems (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.14; 95% CI, 1.94-2.37). Contact with police as a survivor of crime was most commonly recorded (7350 [9.2%]), but the strength of the association was greatest between emotional or behavioral problems and police contact as a person of interest (unadjusted HR, 4.75; 95% CI, 3.64-6.19). Incidence of police contact as a person of interest was high for children with a pervasive developmental risk profile (unadjusted HR, 13.80; 95% CI, 9.79-19.45). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found an association of emerging emotional or behavioral problems and developmental vulnerabilities with increased risk of police contact for any reason among young children, suggesting that this well-known association in adults and adolescents can be identified at an earlier developmental stage. These findings support primary and secondary interventions to prevent police contact early in life and to target the earliest contacts with the criminal justice and educational systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberlie Dean
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Justice Health and Forensic Mental Network, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tyson Whitten
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kristin R. Laurens
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vaughan J. Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa J. Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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