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Earlier recognition and accurate assessment of depressive symptoms is important to improving outcomes in individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (termed SSD hereafter)-regardless of whether positive psychotic symptoms are present or have resolved. The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is frequently used to assess depressive symptoms in SSD, but no study has examined the psychometric validity of MADRS scores in individuals exclusively with SSD and sub-grouped by those with and without positive psychotic symptoms. This study involved baseline data from the Psychosis Recent Onset GRoningen Survey (PROGR-S). Measures used were: MADRS, depressive and negative subscales of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSSD, PANSSN), and Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). The MADRS total score had sufficient concurrent validity with PANSSD (evidence by ρ≥0.70), and insufficient divergent validity with PANSSN (evidenced by ρ ≥0.30), in the full cohort and when sub-grouped by positive psychotic symptoms. In symptom networks, divergent communities comprising either MADRS or PANSSN items were found, except the MADRS item inability to feel overlapped with PANSSN items. The most divergent MADRS items were sadness, pessimism, and suicidal thoughts. The MADRS total score had sufficient predictive validity for determining caseness for MDD based on SCAN, but the optimal cut-off differed in those with and without positive psychotic symptoms (MADRS≥18 versus MADRS≥11). The MADRS has sufficient validity for assessing depressive symptoms in SSD. Since scores might depend upon symptoms of SSD, MADRS≥11 and the presence of sadness, pessimism, or suicidal ideation might be the best indicator of MDD in SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite reports of altered brain morphology in established bipolar disorder (BD), there is limited understanding of when these morphological abnormalities emerge. Assessment of patients during the early course of illness can help to address this gap, but few studies have examined surface-based brain morphology in patients at this illness stage. We completed a secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomised control trial of BD individuals stabilised after their first episode of mania (FEM). The magnetic resonance imaging scans of n = 35 FEM patients and n = 29 age-matched healthy controls were analysed. Group differences in cortical thickness, surface area and gyrification were assessed at each vertex of the cortical surface using general linear models. Significant results were identified at p < 0.05 using cluster-wise correction. The FEM group did not differ from healthy controls with regards to cortical thickness or gyrification. However, there were two clusters of increased surface area in the left hemisphere of FEM patients, with peak coordinates falling within the lateral occipital cortex and pars triangularis. Cortical thickness and gyrification appear to be intact in the aftermath of a first manic episode, whilst cortical surface area in the inferior/middle prefrontal and occipitoparietal cortex is increased compared to age-matched controls. It is possible that increased surface area in the FEM group is the outcome of abnormalities in a premorbidly occurring process. In contrast, the findings raise the hypothesis that cortical thickness reductions seen in past studies of individuals with more established BD may be more attributable to post-onset factors. • Cortical thickness and gyrification appear intact following a first manic episode. • Prefrontal and occipitoparietal cortex surface area is increased after a first manic episode. • Increased surface area may be the outcome of premorbid abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sleep problems have often been reported in children with intellectual disabilities (ID). How anomalies in 24-h sleep patterns relate to behaviour difficulties in children with different types of ID remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess 24-h sleep and behaviour patterns in children with a variety disorders including autism (n =34), Down syndrome (DS, n =12), Prader-Willi syndrome (n =12), and children with intellectual impairments due to unknown etiologies (n =24). 33 typically developing (TD) children served as a control group. 24-h sleep and behavioural data were accumulated over a 14-day period using diary methodology. Group differences in daytime behaviour and sleep patterns were noted with children with DS being quieter, having higher levels of daytime sleepiness, and being better behaved than children with autism. Daytime napping was significantly more prevalent in children with PWS than children with autism and TD children. At bedtime children with autism were less likely to be sleepy, and were poorly behaved, which was reflected in a longer sleep latency and later time asleep. Poorer night-time sleep quality and reduced 24-h sleep time were also noted in the autism group. These findings are of clinical importance, as they indicate that different interventions may be required to treat sleep and behaviour problems in children with different developmental disabilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a brief, easily administered, valid and reliable screening instrument for all psychoactive substances in drug treatment and primary care settings. This study aims to determine the reliability and validity of the ASSIST for detecting substance use disorders in first-episode psychosis. Participants: Participants were 214 first-episode psychosis patients attending the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) in Melbourne, Australia. Measurements: Participants were administered the ASSIST, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Presence of DSM-IV substance abuse and dependence disorders in the previous 12 months was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV). Findings: The ASSIST total substance involvement (TSI) score and specific substance involvement (SSI) scores for cannabis, alcohol and amphetamine use demonstrated high levels of internal consistency and acceptable levels of concurrent and discriminative validity. Individuals with cutoff scores of ≥2, 4 and 1 on the ASSIST cannabis, alcohol and amphetamine SSI scores were 5 to 6 times more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for these substance use disorders. Conclusions: The ASSIST is a psychometrically sound measure of cannabis, alcohol and amphetamine use disorders in first-episode psychosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Outcomes of a normative and reliability study on the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) are reported for a sample of 618 children from Victoria Australia ranging in age from 6.00 to 11.92 years. Percentile ranks are presented for six age levels. Item analysis, internal consistency, and split-half reliabilities are also described. The CPM demonstrated good inter-item consistency and split-half reliability across the age levels. However, item analysis together with the reliability analyses indicated that the number of items in the CPM could be reduced without detriment to the test’s reliability. The psychometric properties of the CPM are discussed and the norms are compared to previously reported data for Australian children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The review explored the role of childhood trauma in the treatment of bipolar disorder. • A range of treatment outcomes was included resulting in a comprehensive evaluation. • Differential treatment outcomes among people exposed to childhood trauma emerged. • The meta-analysis indicated an association with greater improvement in functioning. • The overall quality of the extant evidence is low precluding definitive comment. The influence of childhood trauma on the treatment outcomes of pharmacological and/or psychological interventions for adolescents and adults with bipolar disorder was systematically reviewed. Randomised and non-randomised studies of interventions for bipolar disorder that included an assessment of childhood trauma were eligible. MEDLINE Complete, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Two independent reviewers completed the screening and extraction process. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Alongside a narrative synthesis, random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Twelve studies (1175 participants) were included. The narrative review highlighted differential treatment outcomes among individuals with a history of childhood trauma. The meta-analyses suggested that childhood trauma was unrelated to treatment response (five studies, 426 participants; odds ratio 0.58, 95% CI 0.27–1.25, p =.164) but may be associated with greater improvement in global functioning (three studies, 210 participants; Hedge's g 0.65, 95% CI 0.04–1.26, p =.037). The impact of childhood trauma on the effectiveness of specific pharmacological/psychological interventions could not be explored due to the small body of research identified. The overall quality of the extant evidence is low, which precludes definitive comment on the role of childhood trauma in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Additional research that uses large and representative samples is required to ascertain whether a history of childhood trauma affects the treatment outcomes of interventions for individuals with bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: . Suicidal ideation is common in young people. Assessment and monitoring can help to understand its dynamic nature and inform treatment planning.Aims: . The aims were to evaluate psychometric properties of a brief screening tool - the Youth Suicide Ideation Screen-3 item (YSIS-3) and determine its correlation with the Suicidal Ideation Question-Junior (SIQ-JR) and measures of depressive and anxiety symptoms a.Method: . Cronbach's alpha (α) was used to evaluate internal consistency of the YSIS-3 in 1107 young people. Convergent validity was evaluated using network analysis based on individual item polychoric correlations. Structural equation modelling was used to understand latent constructs; pearson product moment correlations to validate the integrity of the underlying construct. and two-way mixed Intraclass Correlation Coefficient to examine longitudinal stability and Cohen's d to assess sensitivity to change.Results: . The YSIS-3 was found to have internal consistency, convergent validity and criteria validity almost identical to the 15-item SIQ-JR. There was a high correlation (0.91) between the latent factor underpinning YSIS-3 and SIQ-JR. The YSIS-3 was more sensitive to change among those presenting with suicidal ideation at baseline.Conclusions: . The YSIS-3 is a valid measure for the assessment and monitoring of suicidal ideation, and is sensitive to change. This brief measure can contribute to regular monitoring of the presence and nature of suicidal ideation, which when included in comprehensive assessment, will inform the clinical management of those at risk of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The influence of childhood trauma on the treatment outcomes of pharmacological and/or psychological interventions for adolescents and adults with bipolar disorder was systematically reviewed.Methods: Randomised and non-randomised studies of interventions for bipolar disorder that included an assessment of childhood trauma were eligible. MEDLINE Complete, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Two independent reviewers completed the screening and extraction process. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Alongside a narrative synthesis, random-effects meta-analyses were performed.Results: Twelve studies (1175 participants) were included. The narrative review highlighted differential treatment outcomes among individuals with a history of childhood trauma. The meta-analyses suggested that childhood trauma was unrelated to treatment response (five studies, 426 participants; odds ratio 0.58, 95% CI 0.27-1.25, p = .164) but may be associated with greater improvement in global functioning (three studies, 210 participants; Hedge's g 0.65, 95% CI 0.04-1.26, p = .037).Limitations: The impact of childhood trauma on the effectiveness of specific pharmacological/psychological interventions could not be explored due to the small body of research identified.Conclusion: The overall quality of the extant evidence is low, which precludes definitive comment on the role of childhood trauma in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Additional research that uses large and representative samples is required to ascertain whether a history of childhood trauma affects the treatment outcomes of interventions for individuals with bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to better understand the interrelationships between positive and negative symptoms of recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and co-occurring depressive symptoms. Aims were to determine: (1) whether depressive symptoms are best conceptualised as distinct from, or intrinsic to, positive and negative symptoms; and (2) bridging symptoms. Network analysis was applied to data from 198 individuals with depressive and psychotic symptoms in SSD from the Psychosis Recent Onset GRoningen Survey (PROGR-S). Measures were: Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Positive symptoms were just as likely to be associated with depressive and negative symptoms, and had more strong associations with depressive than negative symptoms. Negative symptoms were more likely to be associated with depressive than positive symptoms, and had more strong associations with depressive than positive symptoms. Suspiciousness and stereotyped thinking bridged between positive and depressive symptoms, and apparent sadness and lassitude between negative and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms might be best conceptualised as intrinsic to positive and negative symptoms pertaining to deficits in motivation and interest in the psychotic phase of SSD. Treatments targeting bridges between depressive and positive symptoms, and depressive and such negative symptoms, might prevent or improve co-occurring depressive symptoms, or vice-versa, in the psychotic phase of SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: There are high rates of co-occurring depression among young people with substance use disorders. While there is preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of integrated cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in combination with antidepressants among alcohol and substance dependent adolescents and adults with co-existing depression, no studies have examined the effectiveness of integrated CBT interventions in the absence of pharmacotherapy. The aim of the current study was to determine the outcomes of an integrated CBT intervention for co-occurring depression and substance misuse in young people presenting to a mental health setting. Methods: Sixty young people (aged 15 to 25), with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and concurrent substance misuse (at least weekly use in the past month) or disorder were recruited from a public youth mental health service in Melbourne, Australia. Participants received 10 sessions of individual integrated CBT treatment delivered with case management over a 20-week period. Results: The intervention was associated with significant improvements in depression, anxiety, substance use, coping skills, depressive and substance use cognitions and functioning at mid- (10 weeks) and post- (20 weeks) treatment. These changes were maintained at 6 months follow-up (44 weeks). Conclusions: These results provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the integrated CBT intervention in young people with co-occurring depression and substance misuse. Further studies using randomised controlled designs are required to determine its efficacy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]