Association For Child And Adolescent Mental Health (acamh)

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14629 In this podcast we talk to Professor Anita Thapar, Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University. A researcher and a clinician, Anita is also on the board of the UK national neurodiversity charity ADHD Foundation. Anita talks about the relationship between disorders, such as, ADHD and autism, the elevated risk of later depression, and what is known about the mechanisms behind this association. Anita also looks at what factors may be protective in terms of mitigating the association between neurodevelopmental disorders and youth depression, and how research can impact, or change, the trajectory, from childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, to youth depression.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14570 In this podcast we talk to postdoctoral research fellow Gail Alvares, of the Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia. Gail begins by discussing her recent JCPP paper ‘Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes’. There is also a video abstract on this paper. She then talks about her upcoming research projects including the intolerance of uncertainty for individuals on the spectrum, and why it is so important to follow research with clinical practice.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14528 In this podcast we talk to Professor Cathryn Lewis, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology & Statistics, Head of Department, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London. Cathryn discusses the work of her research group and how determining the polygenic component of mental health disorders can be accurately measured, and how to use genetics to assess people's risk of mental disorder. Cathryn also explains how are polygenic risk scores helpful for child and adolescent mental health professionals, and why should they take an interest in this, and how to translate research into clinical use. More free mental health resources at ww.acamh.org

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14475 In this podcast we talk to Developmental Cognitive Scientist Professor Liz Pellicano, Professor in the Macquarie School of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Liz raises concerns that too much research done in the name of society fails to be of direct use to society. She talks about her commitment to transforming autism science to more accurately reflect autistic people’s day to day lives, and how this in turn might transform the lives of young people with autism. Liz looks at the opportunities is there are for autistic people to play an active role in research, and why this is it so important that autistic people are partners are involved in the research process.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14393 In this podcast we talk to Dr. Carlos Hoyos, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, undergraduate lead for psychiatry at the University of Southampton and ACAMH's 2020 winner of the David Cottrill Education of CAMH Professionals Award. He explains his innovative and creative approaches to enhance and develop skills for current and future child and adolescent mental health professionals, and how it can help students, and CAMHS professionals to get that more experiential, real life experience. We talk to Carlos about his inclusive approach, such as the involvement, engagement with parents, and  and also its benefits this reaps. Carlos also discusses the challenges faced as a CAMHS educator, and ponders on the future for CAMHS more generally in the short, medium and long term.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14288 In this podcast, Dr. Sarah Parry, Clinical Psychologist, researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses what the term hearing voices means, its prevalence, and its manifestations in childhood and adolescence. This fascinating topic has a dearth of research, and Sarah talks about two of her recent papers, one of which will be discussed in detailed at our FREE virtual journal club ‘CAMHS around the Campfire’ in January, do take a look at what’s on offer. Sarah explains how the condition can be exacerbated by anxiety, the stigmatisation, and explains this relational aspect to voice related distress. There are also a number of excellent suggestions for further information and some valuable insights.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14171 In this podcast, Dr. Zoe Smith, recent ACAMH awards 2020 Winner (Research) Trainee of the Year, talks about sluggish cognitive tempo, ADHD and academic motivation. Zoe tells us how she educates families about the failure cycle, and how they can find solutions for their children with ADHD. Zoe also talks about school-based ADHD interventions, and the importance of culturally responsive interventions for youth with ADHD.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14080 In this podcast, Dr. Praveetha Patalay, Associate Professor for Institute of Education (IOE) at University College London, discusses data sets, the difference between mental health and mental health well-being and school-based interventions. Praveetha also talks about her recent JCPP paper on ‘Prescribing measures: unintended negative consequences of mandating standardized mental health measurement’.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13998 In this podcast, Dr. Aisha Sanober Chachar, recent ACAMH Awards 2020 Winner (Clinical) Trainee of the Year, talks about the many different roles a CAMH professional has, be it researcher, clinician, carer, and even storyteller. Aisha talks about the global dearth in CAMH specialists and the impact for mental well-being of young people, and how to enhance cross-cultural learning to foster a more global approach to child and adolescent mental health. We also learn about Aisha journey as a clinician in Pakistan, Nigeria, and the UK, as well as her thoughts on health disparity, and the disadvantages faced by those populations who have been neglected.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13891 In this podcast, Dr. Rhonda Boyd, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania and psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, talks depression, suicide and culturally appropriate interventions. Rhonda highlights the growing issue of depression and suicide for youth and discusses the most effective interventions for treatment. She also runs through key points from her JCPP paper which explored the association between family history of suicide attempt and neurocognitive functioning in community youth.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13766 In this podcast, Professor Nick Allen, Director of the Centre for Digital Mental Health at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon talks about developmental transitions from childhood to adolescence. Nick discusses the types of mental health problems that commonly emerge during or after this period, and details some of the interesting interventions he is using. This includes the exploration of digital ways of tracking and analysing behaviour to detect mental health needs, using digital tools for the detection of mental health difficulties, and its provision of personalised interventions.

In this podcast Tochukwu Nweze, lecturer in the Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and, PhD student in MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge talks about his recent paper on parentally deprived Nigerian children having enhanced working memory ability (read the research digest of the paper), how important is it to study cultural differences in cognitive adaption during and following periods of adversity, and how can mental health professionals translate this understanding of difference into their work.

Professor Emily Jones of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck University of London talks neurodevelopment, attention training and intervention. Emily talks about her research around understanding cognitive and neural mechanisms that drive variability in the early development of core skills, why early development is highly important and translating findings into clinical practice.

In a special episode of our In Conversation series, we hear from Dr. Faith Orchard about her recent paper, co-author by Prof. Alice M. Gregory, Prof. Michael Gradisar, and Dr. Shirley Reynolds, titled Self-Reported Sleep Patterns and Quality amongst Adolescents, Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations with Anxiety and Depression. The paper is part of the October 2020 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Special Issue on Sleep 'Waking Up to the Importance of Sleep for Child & Adolescent Mental Health & Disorders'.

Second episode in our ‘In Conversation Tourettes Syndrome’ series, with Lucy Toghill of Tourettes Action discussing education, and educating, about Tourettes.

In this podcast Professor Anne-Laura Van Harmelen talks about her new appointment of Professor of Brain Safety and Resilience, the work of Risk and Resilience Group, and its work on HOPES project and RAISE Study. Within this Anne-Laura discusses how the brain responds to stress, the idea of a ‘developmental time window’, and the importance of taking a complexity science approach. Please subscribe, rate, and review.

 Associate Professor Mina Fazel talks child refugee mental health, the predominant symptoms seen in this group, and how are these children and young people can be best supported. The conversation includes discussion about unaccompanied minors, many of whom end up in care, the 'red flags' to look out for refugee children joining a school, and the school based interventions to help. 

We are delighted to bring you the first in a new series of podcasts that focus on Tourettes Syndrome. Dr. Seonaid Anderson will be talking to leading players in the field, rising stars of research, clinicians, and experts by experience. She'll be discussing the latest evidence-based research, what's in the pipeline, together with insights for mental health professionals, those working with young people and tips for parents. ‘In Conversation Tourettes Syndrome’ kicks off with Camilla Babbage, PhD researcher in Applied Psychology at the University of Nottingham, giving an overview of the development an App for young people with tics, with the specific aim of improving wellbeing.

Professor Sue Fletcher-Watson discusses developmental disabilities, in particular in autism, how children develop and learn, and in particular in cases where this follows an unusual trajectory. Sue all talks about research on communication and interaction styles, using a fascinating example of 'diffused chains'. She also talks about using technology for learning with augmentative and alternative communication systems, and her work at the Salveson Mindroom Research Centre, and Development Autism Research Technology.

Dr. Ola Demkowicz discusses mix-method research and how it enables researchers and policymakers to understand the big picture. She discusses her research on the TELL Study (Teenager’s Experiences of Life in Lockdown) a quantitative approach which involved 16-19 year olds writing about their own experiences in lockdown. Ola also discusses how over time our definitions of resilience have changed and the role of circumstance and mitigating factors.