Long-term trajectories of mental health in Australia through COVID-19: Assessing distress and quality of life in priority populations.

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted mental health, particularly in individuals with pre-existing conditions and in younger people. However, long-term mental health trajectories beyond the acute phase remain unclear. This study examined distress levels and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with mental and/or physical health conditions, and across different age groups between 2020 and 2024.

Co-occurring Neurodevelopmental Conditions in Children: Advocating for Transdiagnostic Approach to Assessments.

Approximately 8% of all children experience developmental and mental health conditions. Similarities in characteristics across neurodevelopmental conditions-such as difficulties in communication and language, social interaction, motor coordination, attention, activity regulation, behavior, mood, and sleep-make it challenging to attribute these characteristics exclusively to specific diagnoses and assessments. The purpose of this study was to identify symptomatic domains across neurodevelopmental conditions in children and to explore dimension reduction for transdiagnostic assessment.

Co-design of the neurodevelopment assessment scale.

Introduction: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have high comorbidity rates and shared etiology. Nevertheless, NDD assessment is diagnosis-driven and focuses on symptom profiles of individual disorders, which hinders diagnosis and treatment. There is also no evidence-based, standardized transdiagnostic approach currently available to provide a full clinical picture of individuals with NDDs.

Perinatal continuity of care for mothers with depressive symptoms: perspectives of mothers and clinicians.

Background: Mothers with mild to moderate depression in pregnancy are at risk of developing postpartum depression. Midwife-led continuity of care may support maternal mental health throughout the perinatal period. Research is needed to better understand how continuity of care may support mothers experiencing depression in pregnancy.

Characterising the nature of psychiatric disorders and patterns of antipsychotic medications prescribed in a psychiatric ward in a public hospital in Tasmania.

Objective: We present an evaluation of antipsychotic prescribing in an inpatient psychiatry ward in Hobart, Tasmania, to establish pattern of use, alignment with other psychiatric wards or centres and the recommendations in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Clinical Practice Guidelines, and to determine predictors of polypharmacy.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. Data from 118 patients discharged from the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) Mental Health Inpatient Unit between 01/02/2021 to 01/08/2021 were evaluated.

Sex Differences in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Insights from the Australian Biobank.

Examining sub-threshold autistic traits in non-autistic first-degree relatives of individuals on the autism spectrum, known as the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP), could provide new insights into the associations and familial aggregation of autistic traits. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study of parents (n = 1008), probands with autism (n = 613), and unaffected siblings (n = 221) of probands with autism. BAP traits were examined by the BAP Questionnaire and Communication Checklist-Adult in parents, Autism Developmental Observation Scale-Second edition in probands, and Social Responsiveness Scale in siblings.

General practitioners' perspectives regarding early developmental surveillance for autism within the australian primary healthcare setting: a qualitative study.

Background: Significant challenges remain in the early identification of child developmental disabilities in the community. Implementing supports and services early in the life course has been shown to promote positive developmental outcomes for children at high likelihood of developmental disabilities, including autism. As part of a cluster randomised controlled trial, this study seeks to examine and compare the perspectives and experiences of Australian general practitioners (GPs) in relation to a digital developmental surveillance program for autism and usual care pathway, in general practice clinics.

Outcomes for young people in out of home care accessing tiered mental health services in Sydney, Australia.

Young people in OOHC have complex mental health concerns, therefore the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) has trialled a tiered model of mental health care. Under this model the OOHC mental health team (OOHC-MHT) provides specialist tier four service delivery for those with the most severe, intense mental health needs. OOHC consumers with a reduced level of severity access services at a tier three centre-based iCAMHS.

Developmental screening tools for identification of children with developmental difficulties in high-income countries: a systematic review.

Objective: To examine and synthesize the literature on the use of universal developmental screening and surveillance tools in high-income countries in relation to (1) psychometric properties; (2) knowledge, acceptability, and feasibility of tools; and (3) follow-up taken following screening/surveillance.

Method: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was performed in the PsychInfo, PubMed, and Embase databases. Studies published in the English language were included if they reported results evaluating a universal developmental screening or surveillance measurement tool.

Screening for Media Use in the Emergency Department Among Young Australians: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Research on problematic internet use has largely adhered to addiction paradigms, possibly impeding the identification of specific internet behaviors related to psychopathology. This study presents a novel approach to screening for specific problematic internet behaviors by using a new measure, the emergency department media use screener (EDMUS).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of internet use in young people presenting with mental health concerns to the emergency department (ED), ascertain associations with their mental health, and evaluate whether the EDMUS can be used to predict subsequent ED presentations within 3 months.

Preschool Behavioral Problems: Links with Maternal Oxytocin and Caregiving Sensitivity in the Postnatal Period, and Concurrent Maternal Psychopathology and Attachment State-of-Mind.

This study investigated maternal oxytocin, caregiving sensitivity and mother-to-infant bonding at 3-months postpartum as predictors of child behavior and psychological outcomes in the preschool years, when controlling for concurrent maternal negative emotional symptoms and adult attachment state-of-mind. Forty-five mother-child dyads were assessed at 3-months and 3.5 years postpartum using mix of questionnaires, observational, interview and biological methods.

Adapting the 'First 2000 Days maternal and child healthcare framework' in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: ensuring equity in the new world.

The purpose of this perspective article is to emphasise the importance of the 'First 2000 Days' policy of life from conception to age five, and to propose new directions in which the policy's implementation could be extended for the benefit of children and families. The proposed approach highlights principles of responsiveness, integration, sustainability and equity, specifying initiatives that embody the kind of innovation each principle aspires to. The article also proposes innovations in data collection and linkages that would strengthen the implementation of first 2000 days policies and frameworks.

Critical success factors for school-based integrated health care models: Learnings from an Australian example.

Issues Addressed: Integrated school-based health services have the potential to address the unmet health needs of children experiencing disadvantage, yet these models remain poorly evaluated. The current article examines an integrated social and health care hub located on the grounds of a regional Australian public primary school, the Our Mia Mia Wellbeing Hub, to identify critical success factors for this service and others like it.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with N = 55 multi-sector stakeholders comprising parents, students, school staff, social and health care providers, and local Aboriginal community members.

Developmental Screening Tools Used with First Nations Populations: A Systematic Review.

Developmental surveillance and screening is recommended for all children under five years of age, especially for those from at-risk populations such as First Nations children. No review to date has, however, evaluated the use of developmental screening tools with First Nations children. This review aimed to examine and synthesise the literature on developmental screening tools developed for, or used with, First Nations populations children aged five years or younger.

Parental experience of an early developmental surveillance programme for autism within Australian general practice: a qualitative study.

Objectives: Implementing support and services early in the life course has been shown to promote positive developmental outcomes for children at high likelihood of developmental conditions including autism. This study examined parents'/caregivers' experiences and perceptions about a digital developmental surveillance pathway for autism, the autism surveillance pathway (ASP), and usual care, the surveillance as usual (SaU) pathway, in the primary healthcare general practice setting.

Design: This qualitative study involves using a convenience selection process of the full sample of parents/caregivers that participated in the main programme, 'General Practice Surveillance for Autism', a cluster-randomised controlled trial study.

The impact of midwifery continuity of care on maternal mental health: A narrative systematic review.

Background: Systematic reviews have shown that midwifery continuity of care programs lead to improvements in birth outcomes for women and babies, but no reviews have focused specifically on the impact of midwifery continuity of care on maternal mental health outcomes.

Objective: To systematically review the available evidence on the impact of midwifery continuity of care on maternal mental health during the perinatal period.

Method: A systematic search of published literature available through to March 2021 was conducted.

Using Time-out for Child Conduct Problems in the Context of Trauma and Adversity: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences substantially increases the risk of chronic health problems. Originally designed to treat child conduct problems, parent management training programs have been shown to be effective in preventing children from being exposed to further adversity and supporting children's recovery from adversity; however, there are increasing concerns that a core component of these programs, the discipline strategy time-out, may be harmful for children with a history of exposure to adversity.

Objective: To investigate the comparative benefits and potential harms to children exposed to adversity that are associated with parenting programs that include time-out.

Study protocol for a real-world evaluation of an integrated child and family health hub for migrant and refugee women.

Introduction: Continuity of child and family healthcare is vital for optimal child health and development for developmentally vulnerable children. Migrant and refugee communities are often at-risk of poor health outcomes, facing barriers to health service attendance including cultural, language, limited health literacy, discrimination and unmet psychosocial needs. 'Integrated health-social care hubs' are physical hubs where health and social services are co-located, with shared referral pathways and care navigation.

Utility of screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in children and young people attending clinical and healthcare settings: a systematic review.

Objective: To examine and synthesise the literature on adverse childhood experience (ACE) screening in clinical and healthcare settings servicing children (0-11) and young people (12-25).

Design: A systematic review of literature was undertaken.

Data Source: PsycInfo, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and CINAHL were searched through June 2021.

Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings.

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of developmental disorders in early childhood poses a significant global health burden. Early detection of developmental problems is vital to ensure timely access to early intervention, and universal developmental surveillance is recommended best practice for identifying issues. Despite this, there is currently considerable variation in developmental surveillance and screening between Australian states and territories and low rates of developmental screening uptake by parents.

Clinical and behavioral attributes leading to sleep disorders in children on the autism spectrum.

Sleep disorders are a common comorbid condition in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ("autism"). However, the relationship between the clinical features of autism and sleep disorders remains unclear. A better understanding of the inherent autism-related characteristics linked to comorbid sleep disorders would improve comprehensive assessment and management.

Correction: Using Participatory Design Methodologies to Co-Design and Culturally Adapt the Spanish Version of the Mental Health eClinic: Qualitative Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/14127.].