{"title":"The Profile and Characteristics of Young People Accessing Recently Implemented Community Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (F:CAMHS) in Northern Ireland","authors":"Colm Walsh, Philip Anderson, Frances Caldwell","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00633-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00633-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Children under the age of 18 who are known to forensic child and adolescent mental health services often present with complex psychosocial and behavioural needs that are elevated compared with those in the general youth population. The Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for Northern Ireland (FCAMHSNI) was commissioned in 2014 to support these children. Despite almost a decade of implementation, the profile and characteristics in the service remain under-analysed, impeding service improvement and making international comparisons more difficult. The primary aim of the current study was to address the regional gaps in how the needs of those accessing FCAMHSNI are understood. A secondary aim was to capture comparable data. Data on 107 accepted referrals are included in the analyses. The majority of cases within this time period were male (81.1%, <i>n</i> = 86) and the majority of presenting behaviours were related to violence and aggression 62.3% (<i>n</i> = 48). However, some forms of violence, such as harmful sexual behaviour, was relatively low when compared with other jurisdictions. Specific demographic characteristics such as gender and religious background appeared to be significant risk factors for referral to the service. Almost all of the sample are known to have experienced at least one potentially traumatic event (95.2%) and in more than one-third of cases, service users presented with co-morbid issues (35.6%, <i>n</i> = 37). These observations are discussed. This study adds to the growing international literature around the needs of forensically involved youth and helps to inform future service development and provision.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140323088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nayana Narayanan Nedumpully, Samir Kumar Praharaj, Shweta Rai
{"title":"Experiences, Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Bullying Among School-Going Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study from South India","authors":"Nayana Narayanan Nedumpully, Samir Kumar Praharaj, Shweta Rai","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00631-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00631-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bullying victimisation affects an estimated 30% of individuals worldwide. While the prevalence and risk factors of bullying have been studied in India, comprehensive research on the phenomenon of bullying itself remains scarce. Our objective was to study the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards bullying among seventh to ninth-grade students. The study included all seventh to ninth graders (<i>N</i> = 205) from two schools in the Udupi district of South India. To collect information on bullying, we used the <i>Bully Survey - Student Version</i> with appropriate modifications for our context. The mean age of the participants was 13 (1.05) years, with 58% being females. Our findings showed that almost half of the students had bullying roles. Students attending private schools and residing in urban areas were more likely to be victims, bullies, and bully-victims. Seventh and eighth graders experienced higher rates of bullying, whereas ninth graders were more likely to engage in bully behaviours or be bully-victims. Verbal bullying, including name calling, playing jokes, and making fun of others, was more prevalent. No gender differences were observed in verbal or physical bullying. School teachers, staff, and parents were unaware of bullying incidents almost half of the time. Anti-bullying programs should consider these aspects of bullying to be effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140322981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of Therapy at a Community Based Trauma Therapy Service Treating Child Abuse and Neglect: A Pre-Post Study Using Administrative Data","authors":"James Leslie Herbert, Amanda Paton","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00625-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00625-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This repeated-measures study examined the effects of a hybrid of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) with other therapeutic approaches at a community-based clinic in Perth Western Australia among a sample of children and young people overwhelmingly experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment and with complex family situations (i.e., family and domestic violence, parental mental health, parental substance abuse). Drawing on 1713 individual client records from between 2017 and 2020, the researchers identified 113 children and young people with viable pre-post treatment assessments including 78 on the TSCC, 36 on the TSCYC, and 12 on the CBCL. Significant improvements on most clinical scales were identified on the TSCC and TSCYC. Sub-analysis of the TSCC results found no differences across gender, age, care status, therapy funding source, and the presence of sexual abuse in the rate of improvement on trauma symptoms. Overall, the study highlights that integrating different therapy approaches for populations with multiple and complex trauma symptoms accessing community-based services can be useful for supporting the delivery of TF-CBT for difficult to treat populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"181 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140298897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coping Mechanisms and Posttraumatic Stress Exhibited by Children in Areas of Yemen’s Armed Conflict in Southern Saudi Arabia","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00630-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00630-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>This study is an attempt to explore war-related trauma, its stressful effects, and the coping strategies of Saudi schoolchildren. The authors hypothesized that children exposed to war-related trauma will show higher levels of PTSD, and that those with higher levels of PTSD symptoms use more maladaptive coping strategies. The study describes the correlation between traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as coping strategies. Five hundred twenty-seven intermediate and high school students, 12 to 18 years old, living in the conflict zone in southern Saudi Arabia completed three standardized self-reported scales: the War Zone Traumatic Events Checklist, the Child PTSD Symptom Scale, and the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist. Each participating student was randomly chosen. Analysis was based on two groups: the high-PTSD symptoms group (182 children) and the low-PTSD symptoms group (345 children). The study was conducted between September 2020 and April 2022 while the war was ongoing as part of an ongoing larger study. Children exposed to war-related traumatic events exhibited greater prevalence rates for PTSD. The children reported high levels of PTSD symptoms and applied a variety of coping strategies to manage related stress. Participants rarely reported that psychological or educational interventions had been used to manage the war-related traumatic experiences and PTSD or to improve related coping styles. The results are discussed in the context of mental health services needed for children in the conflict zone. To bridge the gap between health care services and the needs of children with PTSD, and for better understanding and interventions, health professionals are invited to develop a biopsychosocial model that identifies the risks of PTSD related to exposure to war-related traumatic events in school-aged children and, hence, provide a multidisciplinary intervention program that educates, encourages, and supports teachers and parents in following medical recommendations and goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140204024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly A. Dumke, Courtnee Hamity, Karen Peters, Mercie DiGangi, Sonya Negriff, Stacy A. Sterling, Kelly C. Young-Wolff
{"title":"Pediatric ACEs Screening and Referral: Facilitators, Barriers, and Opportunities for Improvement","authors":"Kelly A. Dumke, Courtnee Hamity, Karen Peters, Mercie DiGangi, Sonya Negriff, Stacy A. Sterling, Kelly C. Young-Wolff","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00632-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00632-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite well-documented associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifelong impairments in health and well-being, few studies have examined how to facilitate implementation of ACEs screening and referral programs in pediatric settings. We sought to identify facilitators and barriers related to screening for and addressing ACEs in a large integrated healthcare delivery system in Southern California. Using a developmental evaluation approach, we conducted twenty semi-structured interviews with pediatricians, nurses, social workers, and community referral organization staff. Interviews took place across six pediatric clinic pilot sites in Kaiser Permanente Southern California, where more than 7,000 pediatric patients were screened for ACEs between July 2018 and December 2019. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes. Key facilitators for screening and referrals for pediatric ACEs screening included providing clinician education to normalize conversations about ACEs, using screening data to provide more holistic and compassionate care, and collaborating across different types of clinicians. Key barriers included screening tool challenges related to patient confusion and cultural differences, capacity limitations, training issues, and care team silos. When used in the context of a trauma- and resilience-informed workforce, ACEs screening may be a powerful tool to support more collaborative and impactful care decisions that move away from symptom management to address root causes and promote prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140203943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie D. Clarke, Diana K. Riser, Mark S. Schmidt
{"title":"Electrocortical Correlates of Emotion Processing and Resilience in Individuals with Adverse Childhood Experiences","authors":"Stephanie D. Clarke, Diana K. Riser, Mark S. Schmidt","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00621-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00621-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Childhood trauma is associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood, largely due to the impact of chronic stress on the body. Fortunately, there are certain protective characteristics, such as <i>constraint</i> (i.e., impulse control, inhibition, and avoidance of unconventional behavior and risk) and <i>cognitive reappraisal</i> (i.e., reframing circumstances in a more positive light). In the present study, we investigated the interaction between childhood trauma, resilience, and neural correlates of emotion processing. Participants responded to survey questions regarding childhood trauma and resilient characteristics. They were later invited to passively view neutral, unpleasant, and pleasant images while their brain activity was recorded via electroencephalography (EEG). We analyzed two event-related potential (ERP) components of interest: the Early Posterior Negativity (EPN) and Late Positive Potential (LPP). We found that childhood trauma was associated with decreased constraint and reduced sensitivity to unpleasant images (i.e., decreased LPP amplitude differences between neutral and unpleasant images as compared to controls). Further, constraint predicted increased sensitivity to pleasant images. In a hierarchical linear regression analysis, we found that constraint moderated the relation between childhood trauma and emotion processing, such that it predicted increased sensitivity to unpleasant images for adults with childhood trauma in particular. Childhood trauma and cognitive reappraisal independently predicted decreased sensitivity to unpleasant images, (i.e., decreased LPP amplitude differences between neutral and unpleasant images). Our findings suggest that childhood trauma and resilient characteristics independently and interactively influence emotion processing.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"158 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140203938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring Racial Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, and Perception of the Future Among Black-Identifying Emerging Adults with and without Autism in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive Study","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00624-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00624-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Discrimination experienced by Black emerging adults with autism is rarely studied nor have their experiences been juxtaposed to Black emerging adults without autism. A mixed methods descriptive approach was used to describe responses to open-ended questions collected as part of a larger study of discrimination experienced by Black emerging adults with autism (n = 14) and Black emerging adults without autism (n = 20). Questions focused around racial discrimination, disability discrimination, and perception of the future. Qualitative and quantitative content analysis were applied. Qualitatively- a manifest approach was used, and quantitatively- frequency counts and ratios were identified within themes and subthemes. Four main themes and twelve subthemes were identified. Racial discrimination had two themes: 1) <em>Impact on mental health,</em> and 2) S<em>ocietal threats</em>, with five subthemes, each reported at higher rates by people without autism (Theme 1 = 5:7, Theme 2 = 3:11). Disability discrimination was only reported on by those with autism, and had one main theme of neurodiverse/autism bias, and three subthemes. Perception of the future contained the theme of <em>emerging life hopes</em>, with four subthemes. Subthemes relating to work/career/family and future unknown were reported more highly by those without autism than with autism (1:8 and 4:7 respectively), while subthemes describing diverse or unique priorities for fulfillment and mental wellness were reported only by those with autism (6:0 and 4:0 respectively). Study findings suggest unique experiences and needs among Black emerging adults with autism, as well as the consequences of anti-blackness and anti-ableism/neurobigotry which can have double impact in their lives, spanning different ages and stages. Results have implications for building resiliency among Black persons with autism and without autism as they transition to adulthood.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140204170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is Trauma-Informed Care Possible without Information? – Experience of Trauma Awareness among Estonian Foster Parents and Residential Caregivers","authors":"Judit Strömpl, Ingrid Sindi, Merle Lust","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00620-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00620-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a relatively new topic in the Estonian child protection system, but it has become the particular focus of substitute care. The Estonian child protection system focuses on protecting children from maltreatment, and neglects the adult carers’ right to adequate information about the child’s trauma experience. This makes trauma-informed care vague. This article is based on focus groups conducted for a wider study that aims to develop the basis for a TIC training course for foster parents and staff members working as direct caregivers in residential substitute care. The foster parents and staff members participated in four focus groups, with special attention on their experiences with TIC. The participants eagerly shared their experiences, and thematic narrative analysis was used during the data analysis. The central theme of the participants’ stories was the need for information about the child’s traumatic past. The findings indicate that a complex interplay exists between the needs of children entering substitute care and the capacity of the foster parents and residential care staff to meet those needs. It is complicated for a child to heal from trauma if the child’s past is hidden from their carers. This could result in re-traumatisation and hinder the child from making sense of past trauma. Estonia’s child protection system needs greater awareness of the impact of trauma on the child’s behaviour and how to help the child heal. This is directly connected to the need for clear and precise information, which is one of the basic rights of the child.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140204093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Megan R. Hicks, Joanne Smith-Darden, Shantalea Johns, Poco Kernsmith
{"title":"Adverse Childhood Experiences Predicting Psychological Distress among Black Youth: Exploring Self-Control as a Moderator","authors":"Megan R. Hicks, Joanne Smith-Darden, Shantalea Johns, Poco Kernsmith","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00617-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00617-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Contextual risk factors, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), have a significant impact on the mental health of Black youth. Surprisingly, few studies focus efforts specifically on Black youth. The present study investigates the influence of ACEs on psychological distress among Black youth. Additionally, guided by social cognitive theory, this study highlights emotional self-control as a protective mechanism against the negative consequences of ACEs. Our findings show that ACEs (T1) predicted psychological distress among Black youth a year later (T2). Emotional self-control emerged as a significant buffer of ACEs on the association with psychological distress. Thus, to prevent negative mental health outcomes for Black youth, it is imperative to focus prevention efforts on the crucial risk factors that affect healthy development. By working to increase emotional self-control among Black youth who suffered adverse childhood experiences, negative mental health outcomes over time can be reduced.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140168645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Pathways from Forms of Aggression and Peer Victimization to Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: A Gender-Informed Analysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s40653-024-00622-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00622-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Despite ample evidence supporting the association between relational and overt aggression and social-psychological adjustment problems, little is known about how this association occurs among adolescents in non-Western cultures. The present study examined whether potentially traumatic peer experience, such as forms of peer victimization (relational and overt), influences the longitudinal association between forms of aggression (relational and overt) and social-psychological adjustment problems (internalizing and externalizing) among Japanese adolescents. Gender differences in the mediation of peer victimization were also examined. Two hundred and eighty-one Japanese students from nine classrooms and two public middle schools participated in this study (Time 1 M age = 12.72, SD = .45, 50% female). Data included three time points one year apart (Grades 7, 8, and 9). Results of structural equation modeling indicated that higher relational aggression in Grade 7 was associated with more internalizing and externalizing problems in Grade 9. Notably, relational aggression was associated with internalizing problems, but not with externalizing problems, through relational victimization for both boys and girls. Overt aggression in Grade 7 was significantly associated with externalizing problems in Grade 9, but overt victimization did not mediate this association. On the other hand, overt aggression did not predict internalizing problems in Grade 9, but the indirect effect of overt victimization was found in this association. The findings inform us of the need to intervene with at-risk youth, regardless of gender, who use relational aggression, experience potentially traumatic relational victimization, and subsequently exhibit high levels of mental health and behavioral problems in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140168411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}