Article
Behavioral Sciences
Anne Masi, Mohammod Ali Moni, Syeda Ishra Azim, Byungkuk Choi, Helen Heussler, Ping- Lin, Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Valsamma Eapen
Summary: Sleep disorders are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (autism), but the relationship between clinical features of autism and sleep disorders is unclear. This study examined this relationship and found that lower adaptive behaviors and sensory issues were associated with more severe sleep problems in autistic children. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic assessment and appropriate sleep intervention for autistic children.
Letter
Psychiatry
James John, Ei Phyu Synn, Teresa Winata, Valsamma Eapen, Ping- Lin
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
David Trembath, Kandice Varcin, Hannah Waddington, Rhylee Sulek, Cathy Bent, Jill Ashburner, Valsamma Eapen, Emma Goodall, Kristelle Hudry, Jacqueline Roberts, Natalie Silove, Andrew Whitehouse
Summary: This article reports the findings of an umbrella review of 58 systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions for autistic children. The results show that some interventions have positive therapeutic effects, but no single intervention has a positive effect on all child and family outcomes. The influence of child and delivery characteristics on the effects is unclear. These findings provide evidence-based decision-making guidance for parents, practitioners, and policymakers in selecting interventions and highlight the importance of individualized approaches in the absence of clear and consistent evidence.
Article
Psychiatry
Valsamma Eapen, Anthea Stylianakis, Elizabeth Scott, Helen Milroy, Michael Bowden, Ric Haslam, Stephen Stathis
Summary: One in five people experience mental health problems before the age of 25, and one in seven children in Australia have a mental health disorder. However, many children and young people with mental health difficulties are not accessing appropriate care, partly due to the fragmented nature of child mental health services. To address this issue, a novel Integrated Continuum of Connect and Care model is proposed to provide timely and tailored mental health services for children and young people.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Ron Brooker, Sara Cibralic, Elisabeth Murphy, Sue Woolfenden, Valsamma Eapen
Summary: The purpose of this perspective article is to emphasize the importance of the 'First 2000 Days' policy and propose new directions for its implementation. It highlights principles of responsiveness, integration, sustainability, and equity, and suggests innovations in data collection and linkages. The article proposes a framework for improving health systems' implementation of services in the first 5 years of life through a coordinated continuum of services with integrated physical and digital solutions.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sima Alizadeh, Catherine. E. E. Bridge, Bruce. H. H. Judd, Valsamma Eapen
Summary: This study investigated the impact of housing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) on the symptoms and severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents. The results showed that all IEQ factors were associated with the diagnosis and severity of ADHD symptoms. Improving thermal comfort, air quality, and lighting quality in housing design could positively correlate with alleviating ADHD symptoms and severity.
Review
Psychiatry
Tamara May, Edwina Birch, Karina Chaves, Noel Cranswick, Evelyn Culnane, Jane Delaney, Maddi Derrick, Valsamma Eapen, Chantele Edlington, Daryl Efron, Tatjana Ewais, Ingrid Garner, Michael Gathercole, Karuppiah Jagadheesan, Laura Jobson, John Kramer, Martha Mack, Marie Misso, Cammi Murrup-Stewart, Evan Savage, Emma Sciberras, Bruce Singh, Renee Testa, Lisa Vale, Alyssa Weirman, Edward Petch, Katrina Williams, Mark Bellgrove
Summary: This article provides an overview of the development and recommendations from the Australian evidence-based clinical practice guideline for ADHD. The guideline aims to promote accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment, integrating evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences. It includes 113 clinical recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults, covering identification, screening, diagnosis, and treatment options. Successful implementation of the guideline is anticipated to improve health outcomes for the ADHD population in Australia.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Katarina Ostojic, Isra P. Karem, Simon P. Paget, Alison Berg, Betty-Jean Dee-Price, Raghu C. Lingam, Russell C. Dale, Valsamma Eapen, Sue Woolfenden
Summary: Social determinants of health (SDH) have both positive and negative impacts on health and social outcomes. Understanding how SDH affects children with cerebral palsy (CP) is crucial for improving health equity, optimizing health outcomes, and supporting their families. This review examines the impact of SDH on CP children globally. In high-income countries, socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with more severe comorbidities, spastic bilateral CP, and reduced community participation. In low- and middle-income countries, socioeconomic disadvantage is linked to malnutrition, poor housing conditions, lack of sanitation, and poverty.
DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erica J. Polleys, Isabella Del Priore, James E. Haber, Catherine H. Freudenreich
Summary: Expanded CAG/CTG repeats result in DNA damage and changes in repeat length. Homologous recombination (HR) is a cause of repeat instability, and our study suggests that gap filling is a driver of repeat instability during HR. We developed an assay to test this hypothesis, and observed that when the ssDNA template was a CTG sequence, there were increased repeat contractions and formation of a fragile site leading to large-scale deletions. Our findings also reveal the involvement of Rad9 and Rad51 in regulating repeat instability and suggest that structure-forming repeats impede resection and gap-filling, potentially leading to mutations and large-scale deletions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jane Kohlhoff, Sophia A. Harris, Kenny D. Lawson, Valsamma Eapen
Summary: The paper presents the evaluation protocol of the ForWhen program in Australia, which aims to improve outcomes for families by supporting them to access perinatal and infant mental health services. The evaluation will examine the characteristics of service delivery, implementation, clinical impact, and potential moderators of change. It will use a mixed-methods design and incorporate quantitative and qualitative data.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lydie Naule, Alessandra Mancini, Sidney A. Pereira, Brandon M. Gassaway, John R. Lydeard, John C. Magnotto, Han Kyeol Kim, Joy Liang, Cynara Matos, Steven P. Gygi, Florian T. . Merkle, Rona S. Carroll, Ana Paula Abreu, Ursula B. Kaiser
Summary: MKRN3 acts as an inhibitor of puberty initiation and its deletion leads to significant changes in gene expression related to hypothalamic development and plasticity. Additionally, MKRN3 deletion results in early puberty onset and increased dendritic spine numbers in the arcuate nucleus. NKB and IGF2BP1 are identified as targets of MKRN3 regulation.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Pravin Dullur, Joanne Joseph, Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Ping- Lin, Rajeev Jairam, Rhian Davies, Anne Masi, Boaz Shulruf, Valsamma Eapen
Summary: This study aims to identify patterns of internet use in young people with mental health concerns in the emergency department (ED) using a new measure called the emergency department media use screener (EDMUS). The study found that sharing suicidal digital content was the most common problematic internet use pattern, but it did not correlate with prior mental health diagnosis or predict readmission. Diagnoses of personality disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder were independent predictors of readmission.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Saskia Drever, Rachael Foord, Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Valsa Eapen, Rajeev Jairam
Summary: A tiered model of mental health care has been implemented in Sydney to address the complex mental health needs of young people in out-of-home care (OOHC). The results of the study show that OOHC-MHT provided more intense services for those with severe mental health needs, as indicated by worse HoNOSCA scores. However, both the OOHC-MHT and iCAMHS groups showed significant improvements in psychopathology, with the tiered model of care resulting in improved outcomes.
CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Silvana Kaouar, Georgette E. Fleming, Bryan Neo, David J. Hawes, Valsamma Eapen, Eva R. Kimonis
Summary: The study explores the developmental psychopathology of child conduct problems by differentiating subtypes based on levels of internalizing problems and/or callous-unemotional traits. The findings suggest that mothers of children with high levels of internalizing problems and high callous-unemotional traits have fewer warm attributions and more negative dyadic relationships compared to mothers of children with high callous-unemotional traits but low levels of internalizing problems. Mothers of children with high callous-unemotional traits and low levels of internalizing problems attribute fewer good and altruistic intentions towards others in their child.
RESEARCH ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Valsamma Eapen, Brigitte Gerstl, Teresa Winata, Rajeev Jairam, Giles Barton, Michael Bowden
Summary: This paper discusses the urgency of developing and evaluating innovative solutions to address the increasing number of children and young people presenting with acute mental health crises. Through the evaluation of the Safeguards Teams Program (STP), the aim is to provide early access to evidence-based specialist care for children and young people in acute mental health crises and their families/caregivers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE
(2023)