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We aimed to examine whether the trajectories of ecologically derived guilt differ among a transdiagnostic sample of youth with and without recent suicidal ideation and whether sex and age moderated this association. We assessed guilt 3 times a day over a 2-week period via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) technology in 102 children recruited from the community, outpatient, and inpatient settings. The average age of children was 10.95 y.o. (SD = 2.26, range 8–16) and the majority were male (54.9%) and White (76.5%). We found that the real-world guilt during a two-week EMA period was higher among youth with greater suicidal ideation severity in the past six months. Moreover, there was a significant moderating effect of sex and age on this association, such that the association between suicidal ideation severity and guilt was particularly strong among females compared to males and youth who were 10 years old or older. The findings were maintained when we adjusted for the relevant demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, minority status, parental income, EMA response rate, and current internalising symptoms. These preliminary findings highlight the clinical relevance of assessing and targeting feelings of guilt in the day-to-day lives of youth, particularly for females and older youth.

Background Given reports of the adverse effects of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health, it is critical to understand how it impacts psychiatrically hospitalized youth who may be particularly vulnerable to its effects. Objective This study aimed to advance our understanding of high-risk adolescents’ experiences of COVID-19, including COVID-19-related stress, changes in daily functioning, and coping as they relate to suicidal ideation (SI). Method Participants were 107 youth (ages 11–18; M = 15.06, SD = 1.79) admitted to an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit during the time when the initial COVID-19 safety measures (i.e., school closure, stay-at-home- order) and reopening initiatives (Phase I, II, and III) were implemented in Rhode Island between March 13th and July 19th 2020. Adolescents completed measures of COVID-19-related stress, coping, functioning, and SI at the time of admission. Results Nearly half of the sample (43%) reported a negative impact of COVID-19 on daily functioning. Youth who endorsed COVID-19-related decline in functioning evidenced higher levels of SI compared to youth with no change or improvement in functioning due to COVID-19. Overall levels of stress were not associated with SI. Greater coping repertoire, but not the use of specific coping strategies was associated with higher levels of SI. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the importance of examining COVID-19-related changes in functioning and broadening repertoire of coping strategies among adolescents at high risk for SI. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10566-021-09641-1.

Background Comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) with mood disorders and other psychiatric conditions is common. Parenting processes and family functioning are impaired in adolescents with SUDs and mood disorders, and parent/family factors predict intervention response. However, limited research has examined the relationship between parent/family factors and mood symptom treatment response in adolescents with comorbid SUDs and psychiatric conditions. Method This study examined the predictive effects of parenting processes and family functioning on depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) in a randomized controlled trial of integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy vs. treatment as usual for 111 adolescents with comorbid SUDs and psychiatric disorders. Measures of parenting processes, family functioning, depressive symptoms, and SI were completed at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Exploratory analyses involved mixed-effects regression models. Results Across treatment conditions, depressive symptoms and SI improved over 12 months. Family functioning domains of family roles (d=0.47) and affective involvement (d=0.39) significantly improved across treatment conditions over 12 months. Higher baseline parental monitoring predicted improved trajectory of depressive symptoms (d=0.44) and SI (d=0.46). There were no significant predictive effects for baseline family functioning or other parenting processes (listening, limit setting). Limitations Limitations include the modest sample, attrition over follow-up, and generalizability to samples with higher rates of mood disorders and/or uncomplicated mood disorders. Conclusions Parental monitoring may be an important prognostic indicator of depressive symptoms and SI in adolescents with co-occurring SUDs and psychiatric conditions, and therefore may be useful to assess and target in treatment, in addition to family functioning.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the implementation of the empirically supported Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) for adolescent suicidality in emergency services (ES) settings. METHODS: Using an implementation science framework, the authors collaboratively evaluated the needs of ES providers; developed a plan; and trained ES psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health specialists for SPI implementation. The health care and social workers put the safety plan into practice in ES settings and, after involving stakeholders in addressing challenges during implementation, fully integrated the program into ES practice. This study examined providers’ attitudes toward the structured SPI before and after training in this evidence-based intervention. RESULTS: Providers reported a desire to learn evidence-based interventions for safety planning before the training. The effect of time from pre- to posttraining on provider attitudes and knowledge about the SPI was statistically significant (F=4.19, df=2 and 22, p=0.030), indicating that providers’ attitudes toward using the structured SPI in their work improved after completing the training. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are relevant for health care settings that seek to comply with new standards for hospital accreditation and improve overall patient care for suicidal youths. The results suggest that stakeholder collaboration and brief training in SPI may be effective for incorporating structured safety planning practices into pediatric ES settings.

Background Childhood-onset bipolar disorder (BD) has considerable morbidity and mortality, including suicide. Many risk factors have been identified for suicidality, but the potential role of personality traits as assessed by a computer-assisted self-report measure remains unclear. Aims To address this gap in knowledge, we tested relations between pathological-range personality traits and suicidal ideation among young adults whose childhood-onset BD was prospectively confirmed by enrollment in the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth study (COBY) as children (n = 45) and a newly enrolled group of typically developing controls (TDCs; n = 52) both cross-sectionally and longitudinally after 1.5 years of follow up. Materials & methods Personality traits were assessed with the computerized Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality-2 (SNAP-2). Results Cross-sectionally, we found that participants with BD had elevated Suicide Proneness and Low Self-esteem versus TDCs at baseline. Furthermore, longitudinal analyses in the BD participants for whom we had 1.5 years of prospectively collected illness-course data showed that greater Suicide Proneness and Low Self-esteem prospectively predicted greater levels, shorter time until occurrence, and greater frequency of suicidal ideation during the follow-up. Conclusion Our findings suggest the role of specific personality-related vulnerabilities in the course of BD that, pending replication, could contribute to development of interventions focused on personality traits among individuals with BD.

Neurocognitive deficits, such as cognitive flexibility impairments, are common in bipolar disorder (BD) and predict poor academic, occupational, and functional outcomes. However, the association between neurocognition and illness trajectory is not well understood, especially across developmental transitions. This study examined cognitive flexibility and subsequent mood symptom and suicidal ideation (SI) course in young adults with childhood-onset BD-I (with distinct mood episodes) vs. BD-not otherwise specified (BD-NOS) vs. typically-developing controls (TDCs). Sample included 93 young adults (ages 18-30) with prospectively verified childhood-onset DSM-IV BD-I (n = 34) or BD-NOS (n = 15) and TDCs (n = 44). Participants completed cross-sectional neuropsychological tasks and clinical measures. Then participants with BD completed longitudinal assessments of mood symptoms and SI at 6-month intervals (M = 39.18 ± 16.57months of follow-up data). Analyses included ANOVAs, independent-samples t tests, chi-square analyses, and multiple linear regressions. Participants with BD-I had significant deficits in cognitive flexibility and executive functioning vs. BD-NOS and TDCs, and impaired spatial working memory vs. TDCs only. Two significant BD subtype-by-cognitive flexibility interactions revealed that cognitive flexibility deficits were associated with subsequent percentage of time depressed and with SI in BD-I but not BD-NOS, regardless of other neurocognitive factors (full-scale IQ, executive functioning, spatial working memory) and clinical factors (current and prior mood and SI symptoms, age of BD onset, global functioning, psychiatric medications, comorbidity). Thus, cognitive flexibility may be an important etiological brain/behavior mechanism, prognostic indicator, and intervention target for childhood-onset BD-I, as this deficit appears to endure into young adulthood and is associated with worse prognosis for subsequent depression and SI.

This study examined the presence and correlates of COVID-specific suicidal thoughts and behaviors (i.e., thoughts of or engaging in intentional COVID-19 exposure with associated suicidal intent) among psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Adolescents (N = 143) completed study measures as part of the standard intake process between March 13th and August 14th, 2020. Participants answered questionnaires assessing COVID-specific passive and active suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior, as well as COVID-related stressors and emotions, and public health guidance compliance. Findings highlights that COVID-specific SI is common in high-risk youth. COVID-specific SI was associated with COVID-19-related negative emotions, elevated stress, and decreased public health guidance compliance. Results suggest that COVID-specific suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and risk correlates, should be assessed within high-risk populations to facilitate prevention of risky behavior associated with intentional COVID-19 exposure. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10578-021-01225-3.

Background: Psychiatrically vulnerable adolescents may be at heightened risk for suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study characterizes suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) in a sample of adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized during COVID-19. Rates of SI and SA are compared to a historical hospital sample from a matched period in the year prior. Associations between specific stressors and COVID-related SI are also explored. Methods: This cross-sectional chart review utilizes hospital intake data, including self-reports of SA, SI (general and COVID-related), and COVID-specific stressors. Results: SA and SI ratings were higher in the COVID-19 sample compared to the historical sample. Stressors related to missing special events, financial problems, in-home conflict, and changes in living circumstances were associated with COVID-related SI. Among first-time admissions, several interpersonal stressors were linked to COVID-related SI. Limitations: Analyses were cross-sectional, limiting our ability to draw conclusions about causality. Conclusions: This study offers preliminary evidence that COVID-19 may be contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in high-risk adolescents.

Despite considerable public and scholarly debate about the role of social media in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), no comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of this literature has previously been undertaken. The current systematic review and meta-analysis examines associations between social media use and SITBs, including suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). A range of social media behaviors and experiences were identified, including cybervictimization and perpetration, exposure to and generation of SITB-related content, problematic use, sexting, social media importance, and frequency of use. A systematic search of PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, and the references of prior reviews yielded 61 eligible studies. Results largely suggested medium effect sizes for associations between specific social media constructs (cybervictimization, SITB-related social media use, problematic social media use) and SITBs. There was no association between frequency of social media use and SITBs; however, studies on this topic were limited. The majority of studies identified focused on cybervictimization, and results suggested positive associations with all SITBs, with the association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation stronger for adolescents than adults. Overall, findings highlight the utility of examining specific social media behaviors and experiences, and point to the need for more research in this area.

Some mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present with maladaptive personality profiles (high neuroticism, low conscientiousness). The moderating effect of maternal personality traits on treatment outcomes for childhood ADHD has not been examined. We evaluate whether maternal neuroticism and conscientiousness moderated response in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD. This is one of the first studies of this type. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 579 children aged 7–10 (M = 8.5); 19.7% female; 60.8% White with combined-type ADHD were randomly assigned to systematic medication management (MedMgt) alone, comprehensive multicomponent behavioral treatment (Beh), their combination (Comb), or community comparison treatment-as-usual (CC). Latent class analysis and linear mixed effects models included 437 children whose biological mothers completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory at baseline. A 3-class solution demonstrated best fit for the NEO: MN&MC = moderate neuroticism and conscientiousness (n = 284); HN&LC = high neuroticism, low conscientiousness (n = 83); LN&HC = low neuroticism, high conscientiousness (n = 70). Per parent-reported symptoms, children of mothers with HN&LC, but not LN&HC, had a significantly better response to Beh than to CC; children of mothers with MN&MC and LN&HC, but not HN&LC, responded better to Comb&MedMgt than to Beh&CC. Per teacher-reported symptoms, children of mothers with HN&LC, but not LN&HC, responded significantly better to Comb than to MedMgt. Children of mothers with high neuroticism and low conscientiousness benefited more from behavioral treatments (Beh vs. CC; Comb vs. MedMgt) than other children. Evaluation of maternal personality may aid in treatment selection for children with ADHD, though additional research on this topic is needed.

The majority of adolescents with psychiatric disorders use social media, engaging in a range of online activities that may confer both risks and benefits. Very little work, however, has examined engagement in online activities related to self-injury among these youth, such as posting about self-injury, viewing self-injury related content, or messaging about self-injury with online or offline friends. This study examined the frequency and types of online self-injury activities in which adolescents engage, perceived functions that these activities serve, and associated risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). Participants were 589 psychiatrically-hospitalized adolescents (M(age) = 14.88), who completed self-report measures assessing online self-injury activities, perceived functions and consequences of these activities, and SITBs. Results indicated that 43.3% of the sample had engaged in online self-injury activities, that the majority (74.8%) used social networking sites (e.g., Snapchat, Instagram) to do so, and that these activities were significantly more common among sexual and gender minority youth. Adolescents who talked about self-injury with friends met online were more likely to report a history of suicide attempt(s). A latent profile analysis revealed three distinct subgroups of youth based on their perceived functions of engaging in online self-injury activities. Subgroups reporting higher levels of engagement for purposes of identity exploration, self-expression, and aiding recovery were at heightened risk for negative perceived consequences of these activities and reported greater suicidal ideation severity. Findings offer new insights for identifying youth who may be at heightened risk for SITBs in the context of social media use.

Facial emotion recognition deficits are common in bipolar disorder (BD) and associated with impairment. However, the relationship between facial emotion recognition and mood course is not well understood. This study examined facial emotion recognition and subsequent mood symptoms in young adults with childhood-onset BD versus typically developing controls (TDCs). The sample included 116 young adults (ages 18–30, 58% male, 78% White) with prospectively verified childhood-onset BD (n = 52) and TDCs (n = 64). At baseline, participants completed a facial emotion recognition task (Diagnostic Analysis of Non-Verbal Accuracy-2) and clinical measures. Then, participants with BD completed mood symptom assessments every 6 months (M = 8.7 ± 5.2 months) over two years. Analyses included independent-samples t tests and mixed-effects regression models. Participants with BD made significantly more recognition errors for child expressions than TDCs. There were no significant between-group differences for recognition errors for adult expressions, or errors for specific child or adult emotional expressions. Participants had moderate baseline mood symptoms. Significant time-by-facial emotion recognition interactions revealed more recognition errors for child emotional expressions predicted lower baseline mania and stable/consistent trajectory; fewer recognition errors for child expressions predicted higher baseline mania and decreasing trajectory. In addition, more recognition errors for adult sad expressions predicted stable/consistent depression trajectory and decreasing mania; fewer recognition errors for adult sad expressions predicted decreasing depression trajectory and stable/consistent mania. Effects remained when controlling for baseline demographics and clinical variables. Facial emotion recognition may be an important brain/behavior mechanism, prognostic indicator, and intervention target for childhood-onset BD, which endures into young adulthood and is associated with mood trajectory.

Despite considerable public and scholarly debate about the role of social media in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), no comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of this literature has previously been undertaken. The current systematic review and meta-analysis examines associations between social media use and SITBs, including suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). A range of social media behaviors and experiences were identified, including cybervictimization and perpetration, exposure to and generation of SITB-related content, problematic use, sexting, social media importance, and frequency of use. A systematic search of PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, and the references of prior reviews yielded 61 eligible studies. Results largely suggested medium effect sizes for associations between specific social media constructs (cybervictimization, SITB-related social media use, problematic social media use) and SITBs. There was no association between frequency of social media use and SITBs; however, studies on this topic were limited. The majority of studies identified focused on cybervictimization, and results suggested positive associations with all SITBs, with the association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation stronger for adolescents than adults. Overall, findings highlight the utility of examining specific social media behaviors and experiences, and point to the need for more research in this area.

Caregivers of psychiatrically impaired children experience considerable parenting stress. However, no research has evaluated parenting stress within the context of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSD). Thus, the aim of this investigation was to identify predictors and moderators of stress among caregivers in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms study. Participants included 640 children and their caregivers in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms cohort. Children had a mean age of 9.4 ± 1.9 years (68% male, 23% BPSD); parents had a mean age of 36.5 ± 8.3 years (84% mothers). Children with BPSD had more service utilization, psychiatric diagnoses, mood and anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment but fewer disruptive behavior disorders. Caregivers of children with BPSD were more likely than caregivers of children without BPSD to have a partner, elevated depressive symptoms, antisocial tendencies, and parenting stress (Cohen’s d = .49). For the whole sample, higher child IQ, mania, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and caregiver depression predicted increased parenting stress; maternal conduct disorder predicted lower stress. Child anxiety and disruptive behavior were associated with elevated caregiver stress only for non-BPSD children. Caregivers of children with BPSD experience significant burden and thus require specialized, family-focused interventions. As stress was also elevated, to a lesser degree, among depressed caregivers of children with higher IQ, mania, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, these families may need additional supports as well. Although parents with conduct/antisocial problems evidenced lower stress, these difficulties should be monitored. Thus, parenting stress should be evaluated and addressed in the treatment of childhood mental health problems, especially BPSD.

Mediation analyses can identify mechanisms of change in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). However, few studies have analyzed mediators of CBT for youth internalizing disorders; only one trial evaluated treatment mechanisms for youth with mixed mood diagnoses. This study evaluated mediators in the randomized trial of Child- and Family-Focused CBT (CFF-CBT) versus Treatment As Usual (TAU) for pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), adjunctive to pharmacotherapy. Sixty-nine children ages 7-13 with PBD were randomly assigned to CFF-CBT or TAU. Primary outcomes (child mood, functioning) and candidate mediators (family functioning, parent/child coping) were assessed at baseline and 4-, 8-, 12- (post-treatment), and 39-weeks (follow-up). Compared with TAU, children receiving CFF-CBT exhibited greater improvement in mania, depression, and global functioning. Several parent and family factors significantly improved in response to CFF-CBT versus TAU, and were associated with the CFF-CBT treatment effect. Specifically, parenting skills and coping, family flexibility, and family positive reframing showed promise as mediators of child mood symptoms and global functioning. Main or mediating effects for youth coping were not significant. CFF-CBT may impact children’s mood and functioning by improving parenting skills and coping, family flexibility, and family positive reframing. Findings highlight the importance of parent coping and family functioning in the treatment of PBD.

Several psychosocial, family-focused Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs) for youth with disruptive behavior have proven effective in practice settings. However, limited research has examined community implementation of EBTs for pediatric depression and bipolar disorder. This pilot open trial evaluated Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) with 41 children ages 7 to 12 (54% male, 92% Caucasian) with mood disorders and their parents in an outpatient setting. MF-PEP is an 8-session, adjunctive EBT with parallel child and parent groups. Fourteen community therapists facilitated six MF-PEP groups at three agencies over two years. Developed checklists were used to evaluate adherence. Clinical outcomes were measured via clinician assessment and self-report questionnaires at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up, and analyzed via hierarchical linear modeling. Therapist group adherence ranged from 66.71% to 78.68% (M = 72.14%, SD = 4.85). Children experienced significant improvement in depressive and manic symptoms, and parents reported a significant increase in knowledge of mood disorders. Children with bipolar disorder and families with limited treatment history benefitted most from MF-PEP. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) ranged from small to large for mood outcomes (d = 0.34 to 1.18), knowledge (d = 1.02), and treatment beliefs (d = 0.04 to 0.41). Limitations included small sample, missing data, and open design. Results suggest that MF-PEP may be impactful for families affected by pediatric mood disorders in the community, especially among youth with bipolar disorder and families novice to treatment. Randomized controlled trials are needed to provide more definitive evidence for the effectiveness of MF-PEP in practice settings.

Prior studies using behavioral tasks and neuroimaging have shown that children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) have deficits in cognitive flexibility (CF)—defined as adaptation to changing rewards and punishments. However, no study, to our knowledge, has examined the white matter microstructural correlates of CF in youth with BD. To address this gap, we examined the relationship between CF assessed with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB)’s Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift task (ID/ED) and diffusion tensor imaging analyzed with FSL’s preprocessing tools and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). We found a significantly different relationship between microstructural integrity of multiple white matter regions and CF performance in BD (n=28) and age-matched typically developing control (TDC) youths (n=26). Evaluation of the slopes of linear regressions in BD vs. TDC (ID/ED Simple Reversal error rate vs. fractional anisotropy) revealed significantly different slopes across the groups, indicating an aberrant relationship between CF and underlying white matter microstructure in youth with BD. These results underscore the importance of examining specific CF-neuroimaging relationships in BD youth. Future longitudinal studies could seek to define the white matter microstructural trajectories in BD vs. TDC, and relative to CF deficits and BD illness course.

Background A precision medicine approach to bipolar disorder (BD) requires greater knowledge of neural mechanisms, especially within the BD phenotype. The present study evaluated differences in resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) between young adults followed longitudinally since childhood with full-threshold type I BD (BD-I)—characterized by distinct manic episodes—or a more sub-syndromal presentation of BD (BD Not Otherwise Specified [BD-NOS]), compared to one another and to healthy controls (HC). Independent Components Analysis (ICA), a multivariate data-driven method, and dual regression were used to explore whether connectivity within resting state networks (RSNs) differentiated the groups, especially for characteristic fronto-limbic alterations in BD. Methods Young adults (ages 18–30) with BD-I (n = 28), BD-NOS (n = 14), and HCs (n = 52) underwent structural and RSFC neuroimaging. ICA derived 30 components from RSFC data; a subset of these components, representing well-characterized RSNs, was used for between-group analyses. Results Participants with BD-I had significantly greater connectivity strength between the executive control network and right caudate vs. HCs. Participants with BD-NOS had significantly greater connectivity strength between the sensorimotor network and left precentral gyrus vs. HCs, which was significantly related to psychiatric symptoms. Limitations Limitations included small BD-NOS sample size and variation in BD mood state and medication status. Conclusions Results for BD-I participants support prior findings of fronto-limbic alterations characterizing BD. Alterations in the sensorimotor network for adults with BD-NOS aligns with the small but growing body of evidence that sensorimotor network alterations may represent a marker for vulnerability to BD. Further study is required to evaluate specificity.

Background Childhood-onset bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious condition that affects the patient and family. While research has documented familial dysfunction in individuals with BD, no studies have compared developmental differences in family functioning in youths with BD vs. adults with prospectively verified childhood-onset BD. Methods The Family Assessment Device (FAD) was used to examine family functioning in participants with childhood-onset BD (n = 116) vs. healthy controls (HCs) (n = 108), ages 7–30 years, using multivariate analysis of covariance and multiple linear regression. Results Participants with BD had significantly worse family functioning in all domains (problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, behavior control, general functioning) compared to HCs, regardless of age, IQ, and socioeconomic status. Post-hoc analyses suggested no influence for mood state, global functioning, comorbidity, and most medications, despite youths with BD presenting with greater severity in these areas than adults. Post-hoc tests eliminating participants taking lithium (n = 17) showed a significant diagnosis-by-age interaction: youths with BD had worse family problem solving and communication relative to HCs. Limitations Limitations include the cross-sectional design, clinical differences in youths vs. adults with BD, ambiguity in FAD instructions, participant-only report of family functioning, and lack of data on psychosocial treatments. Conclusions Familial dysfunction is common in childhood-onset BD and endures into adulthood. Early identification and treatment of both individual and family impairments is crucial. Further investigation into multi-level, family-based mechanisms underlying childhood-onset BD may clarify the role family factors play in the disorder, and offer avenues for the development of novel, family-focused therapeutic strategies.

Treatment of internalizing disorders in youth often entails a multimodal approach, including pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and systems-based intervention in familial, school, and social settings. Prior to selecting appropriate treatments, a comprehensive, lifetime assessment employing multiple informants (youth, parents, teachers) and methods (questionnaires, semi-structured evaluation, clinical interview) should be conducted. Given the high rate of co-occurrence of multiple internalizing disorders, comorbidity of mood and anxiety with other psychiatric problems, and symptom overlap across diagnostic categories, thorough assessment taking into account differential diagnoses is essential. Following evaluation, treatment selection should be based on the primary presenting problem, degree of impairment, and current evidence. For moderate-to-severe adolescent depression, a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with pharmacotherapy (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]) has the strongest empirical base. Mounting evidence also supports the use of CBT and interpersonal therapy (IPT) as monotherapies for depressed youth. CBT for depression involves identifying and challenging cognitive distortions, behavioral activation, problem solving, and emotion regulation, while IPT aims to reduce interpersonal conflict via interpersonal problem-solving and communication skills. For pediatric bipolar disorders, family psychoeducation about the etiology, course, and treatment of mood disorders, plus skill building (problem solving, CBT, communication, emotion regulation), should be employed adjunctive to pharmacotherapy. Finally, for anxiety disorders, various forms of CBT have demonstrated efficacy. Typically, use of SSRIs concurrently with CBT offers additional benefit for anxious youth. Though the format and focus of CBT varies depending on the specific anxiety disorder, most interventions involve psychoeducation, emotion identification and management strategies, cognitive restructuring, exposure, and familial involvement. Recent preliminary research also supports the use of other psychotherapies (e.g., attachment-based family therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, attention bias modification training) and healthy lifestyle changes (e.g., sleep, diet, exercise). In conclusion, CBT-based treatments currently have the most empirical support, and should be considered first-line psychosocial interventions for pediatric internalizing disorders.

Pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSDs) are serious conditions associated with morbidity and mortality. Although most treatment research has examined pharmacotherapy for pediatric BPSDs, growing literature suggests that psychosocial interventions are also important to provide families with an understanding of symptoms, course, and treatment of BPSDs; teach youth and parents methods for coping with symptoms (e.g., problem solving, communication, emotion regulation, cognitive-behavioral skills); and prevent relapse. Thirteen psychosocial intervention trials for pediatric BPSDs were identified via a comprehensive literature search and evaluated according to the Task Force on the Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures guidelines. All interventions were examined adjunctive to pharmacotherapy and/or treatment as usual (TAU). No well-established or questionably efficacious treatments were identified. Family psychoeducation plus skill building was probably efficacious (i.e., Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy, Family-Focused Treatment); cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was possibly efficacious. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) were experimental. Limited research precluded subdivision of treatments by format and age. Only single- and multiple-family psychoeducation plus skill building and CBT were evaluated with children. Only single-family psychoeducation plus skill building and DBT, and individual (commonly with limited familial involvement) CBT and IPSRT were evaluated with adolescents. In conclusion, psychosocial interventions that involve families, psychoeducation, and skill building may offer added benefit to pharmacotherapy and/or other TAU. Limitations of current research include few outcome studies, small samples, and failure to use stringent control conditions or randomization. The review concludes with a discussion of mediators and moderators, recommendations for best practice, and suggestions for future research.

Objective Multifamily psychoeducational psychotherapy (MF-PEP) is an efficacious treatment for children with mood disorders. Given the comorbidity between disruptive behaviors and mood disorders, this study examined associations between disruptive behaviors and impairment, impact of MF-PEP on disruptive behaviors, and whether disruptive behaviors affected treatment response of mood symptoms. Method Secondary analyses examined a randomized controlled trial of MF-PEP versus waitlist control (N = 165 children 8–11 years old with mood disorders and their parents). Comorbid behavioral diagnoses occurred in 97% of children. All participants continued treatment as usual. Results Greater degree of disruptive behaviors was associated with worse mood symptoms and impairment. Between-group analyses examining outcome of disruptive behaviors were nonsignificant. Within-group analyses and between-group effect sizes suggested that MF-PEP was associated with decreases in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( d = 0.39), oppositional defiant disorder ( d = 0.30), and overall disruptive behavior symptoms ( d = 0.30), but not conduct disorder symptoms. Baseline severity of disruptive behaviors did not affect treatment response of mood symptoms to MF-PEP. Conclusions MF-PEP is an effective intervention for children with mood disorders and provides some benefit for disruptive behaviors. Given that disruptive behavior severity does not affect children's ability to experience improved mood symptoms, MF-PEP may be an important early intervention for children with comorbid mood and disruptive behavior disorders. Subsequent intervention targeting behavioral symptoms after improvement in mood may be beneficial. Studies examining treatment sequencing for children with comorbid mood and disruptive behavior disorders are needed. Clinical trial registration information—Family psychoeducation for children with mood disorders; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00050557.

This study investigated predictors and moderators of mood symptoms in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) for childhood mood disorders. Based on predictors and moderators in RCTs of psychosocial interventions for adolescent mood disorders, we hypothesized that children's greater functional impairment would predict worse outcome, whereas children's stress/trauma history and parental expressed emotion and psychopathology would moderate outcome. Exploratory analyses examined other demographic, functioning, and diagnostic variables. Logistic regression and linear mixed effects modeling were used in this secondary analysis of the MF-PEP RCT of 165 children, ages 8 to 12, with mood disorders, a majority of whom were male (73%) and White, non-Hispanic (90%). Treatment nonresponse was significantly associated with higher baseline levels of global functioning (i.e., less impairment; Cohen's d = 0.51) and lower levels of stress/trauma history (d = 0.56) in children and Cluster B personality disorder symptoms in parents (d = 0.49). Regarding moderators, children with moderately impaired functioning who received MF-PEP had significantly decreased mood symptoms (t = 2.10, d = 0.33) compared with waitlist control. MF-PEP had the strongest effect on severely impaired children (t = 3.03, d = 0.47). Comprehensive assessment of demographic, youth, parent, and familial variables should precede intervention. Treatment of mood disorders in high-functioning youth without stress/trauma histories and with parents with elevated Cluster B symptoms may require extra therapeutic effort, whereas severely impaired children may benefit most from MF-PEP.

Despite advances in Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs), research suggests these interventions are not utilized in practice settings. This study examined implementation of Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP), an EBT for childhood mood disorders, in two outpatient community clinics. Fifteen community therapists facilitated MF-PEP. Twenty community clinicians referred forty children ages 8 to 12 with mood disorders and their parents who participated in MF-PEP. Preliminary descriptive findings based on observations and self-report questionnaires demonstrated implementation outcomes of acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, implementation cost, penetration, and sustainability of MF-PEP at these clinics. Parents also demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge of mood disorders post-treatment. Preliminary results support implementation of MF-PEP in practice settings and suggest community-based MF-PEP may be associated with improvement in clinical outcomes.