Concerns have been raised about an increase in children’s mental health symptoms over the past 30 years, including after COVID-19 lockdowns. Yet, few studies have investigated variations over generations, while considering sex and socioeconomic status. We aimed to address this gap by comparing mental health symptoms (emotional distress, impulsivity/hyperactivity/inattention, disruptive behaviours) reported by classroom teachers of 11-year-olds in three population-based, prospective, representative cohorts in Quebec, Canada. Analyses included 1665 (83%) of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children, in 1993; 1305 (62%) of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, 2009; and 3871 (100%) of the Quebec Survey of Child Development in Kindergarten, 2022; ~50% boys. Teacher-rated symptoms on the validated Social Behavior Questionnaire showed higher scores of emotional distress and impulsive/hyperactive/inattentive symptoms in 2022 than 2009, and higher in 2009 than 1993 (very small-to-small effect sizes: Cohen’s d 0.12 and 0.26 for emotional distress, 0.06 and 0.25 for impulsive/hyperactive/inattentive symptoms, respectively; P < 0.001). Disruptive behaviour symptoms scored lower in 2022 than 2009, though higher in 2009 than 1993, with very small effect sizes (Cohen’s d: -0.15 and 0.09, respectively). Boys presented more impulsive/hyperactive/inattentive and disruptive behaviour symptoms than girls; girls showed more emotional distress than boys. Children from economically disadvantaged households (lowest 20% of income distribution) presented higher symptoms rates than advantaged children. These findings provide novel and timely evidence about variations in children’s mental health symptom rates over three decades, underscoring the need for preventive interventions as early as elementary school, tailored differentially for boys and socioeconomically disadvantaged children.

Long-term neurodevelopmental/socioemotional risks in small for gestational age (SGA) children lack robust evidence, especially maternal/neonatal predictors. The study aims to identify independent maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with atypical neurodevelopmental and socioemotional outcomes in SGA children. This longitudinal cohort study included 412 singleton SGA infants born at Peking University People’s Hospital in Beijing from January 2020 to December 2022. Participants underwent 24–36 months follow-up median 30 months, with neurodevelopmental and socioemotional outcomes evaluated using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE). These assessments categorized SGA children into normal/atypical development groups for both domains. Through assessment, there were 292 cases (70.9%) of development on track SGA children. The atypical neurodevelopment group included 92 cases (22.3%), among which 38 cases (9.2%) exhibited atypical development in one domain and 54 cases (13.1%) in ≥ 2 domains. The atypical socioemotional development group included 48 cases (11.7%). Additionally, 20 cases (4.9%) of SGA children exhibited both atypical neurodevelopment and atypical socioemotional development. Multivariable regression analysis showed that maternal pre-pregnancy underweight (OR = 6.93, 95% CI = 2.76–17.41), maternal inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) (OR = 4.63, 95% CI = 2.15–9.99), maternal excessive GWG (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.14–5.55), preterm infant (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03–1.55), severe SGA (OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.47–5.90) and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome Peking University People’s Hospital (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.06–1.57) were independently related to the occurrence of atypical neurodevelopment outcomes in SGA children; maternal pre-pregnancy underweight (OR = 3.54, 95% CI = 1.11–7.27), maternal inadequate GWG (OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.32–8.84), preterm infant (OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.09–7.17) and male (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.05–4.75) were independently related to the occurrence of atypical socioemotional development in SGA children. Monitoring and promoting of maternal appropriate weight gain or the maternal health would improve outcome of SGA infants.

Self-harm, including nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts, is common among youth, associated with elevated psychopathology, suicide risk, and increased demand for clinical services. Despite advances in understanding and treatment, few interventions have demonstrated efficacy in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are considered the gold standard for evaluating treatment effects by randomly assigning participants to intervention or control groups. Building on prior meta-analyses, this study conducted a meta-analysis of RCTs to evaluate the efficacy of interventions in adolescents across three outcomes: self-harm regardless of suicidal intent, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury. Systematic searches in PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline identified RCTs evaluating interventions for self-harm in youth under 18 years who engaged in self-harm at least once in the past six months. Studies were included if 80% met these criteria. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects modeling, primarily to account for heterogeneity across studies, as this approach accommodates variation in effect sizes that may arise from differences in for example study populations, and interventions. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Of 6497 screened records, 21 studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that across three studies, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) reduced the number of adolescents engaging in self-harm behaviors (risk difference [RD]=–0.12, 95% confidence interval: − 0.22 to − 0.02), with moderate certainty. Meta-analysis of two studies found Internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (IERITA) reduced both the episodes (mean difference =–4.65, − 8.04 to − 1.25) and occurrence of nonsuicidal self-injury at treatment end (RD=–0.20, − 0.34 to − 0.07), with low certainty of evidence. DBT-A appears effective in preventing repeated self-harm, supported by findings across multiple research groups. The less resource-intensive therapy IERITA may be beneficial for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury. Larger sample sizes and consensus on definitions and measurement approaches will benefit future research and clinical practice.Prospero registration: ID CRD42023480178.

Low parental education has been suggested as a risk factor for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the associations may differ by gender and age, as boys are diagnosed more often and ...

This retrospective study examines emergency involuntary psychiatric admission procedures for minors in Athens (2018–2022), using case records accessed through collaboration between the ‘postgraduate M...

Abstract. Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for adolescent Borderline Personality Pathology (BPP), yet its mechanisms remain unclear. Given potential self-report biases due to alexithymia and imp...

Objective Rates of help-seeking and treatment uptake are low in eating disorders. Delayed initiation of treatment has a negative impact on prognosis and treatment outcome and leads to a higher burde...

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue and associated with self-harm in adolescents. Self-harm is the strongest recognised predictor of…

Background Suicidality is a major public health concern worldwide. Evidence on the prevalence and risk factors of suicidality amongst unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs), a population already at risk ...

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented global challenges. Amid the crisis, the potential impact of COVID-19 exposure on the neurodevelopment of offspring born to infected mothers emerged as a cri...

A 10-week randomised controlled trial (RCT) showed efficacy of micronutrients in improving symptoms associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study investigated duration ef...