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Background: Child maltreatment (CM) includes neglect, and several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual. CM has been associated with a wide range of mental illnesses. Literature examining these illnesses in mid-life is scarce, and the impact of these illnesses on mental health service use is currently unknown., Objective: To examine associations between self-reported CM and subsequent hospital admissions for mental illnesses, and/or community mental health service contacts., Setting: Birth cohort study data linked to administrative health data, including hospital admissions and community mental health service contacts, up to the age of 40., Methods: Associations between hospital admissions for mental health and community mental health contacts and CM subtypes (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse) were examined using multivariate logistic regression., Results: Adjusted analyses showed that all subtypes of CM were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with admissions to hospital for any type of mental illness (aOR range 1.87-3.61), non-psychotic mental disorders (aOR range 1.98-3.61), alcohol and/or substance use (aOR range 2.83-5.43), and community mental health service contacts (aOR range 2.44-3.13). Hospital admissions for psychotic mental disorders were significantly associated with physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse (aOR range 2.14-3.93)., Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the current knowledge around CM and subsequent mental health illnesses up to the age of 40, and extend this knowledge to hospital and mental health service use., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A range of adult health outcomes have been linked to early childhood adversities. These early adversities include parental marital breakdown and family economic disadvantage. Childhood experiences of maltreatment have also been linked to a variety of adult health outcomes. As both childhood adversities and child maltreatment often co-occur, we examine whether childhood adversities at 3 stages of the child's early life course predict any of nine adult mental health outcomes controlling for past experiences of child trauma (maltreatment). Data are from a long running birth cohort study, the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). We use bivariate and multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for confounding, to predict adult outcomes. Experiences of recent life events in pregnancy appear to be unrelated to adult mental health. Recent life events experienced at the 5-year follow-up independently predicts lifetime ever depression and cannabis use disorder. Experiences of recent life events at 14-years of age predict lifetime ever depression, cannabis and amphetamine use in adulthood. Our findings support early childhood interventions which should be supplemented with a focus on later childhood and the adolescent period of development. Interventions should also focus on the broader social and demographic context within which children are born. Efforts to reduce the occurrence and consequences of childhood maltreatment should be given primary attention in order to reduce the childhood factors contributing to adult mental illness., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Most studies of the association between psychiatric disorders and poor oral health have been conducted in clinical settings. Where available, data from community surveys have generally been cross-sectional or considered anxiety and depression as a consequence of poor oral health, not the other way round. This study therefore used a birth cohort to assess the association of mental health, measured both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and oral health at 30-year follow-up., Methods: There were 2456 adults with data on dental outcomes and oral health care at 30-year follow-up. Psychiatric morbidity was measured at both 21- and 30-year follow-up using standardised instruments including the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale and Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)., Results: At follow-up, 850 participants (34.6%) had undergone a dental extraction for infection or decay, and 810 had experienced significant dental pain over their lifetime. One third had not visited a dental clinic in the previous two years and 40% failed to brush their teeth at least twice daily. On adjusted analyses, dental extraction and pain were significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity cross-sectionally at 30-year follow-up and also longitudinally when psychiatric symptoms were present at both 21 and 30 years old. Several cross-sectional measures of psychiatric morbidity were also associated with frequency of tooth brushing. There were no associations with dental clinic visits., Conclusions: The study demonstrates there are associations between oral and mental health, which are not limited to clinical settings, but were observed at a population level., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Childhood aggressive behavior (AGG) has a substantial heritability of around 50%. Here we present a genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWAMA) of childhood AGG, in which all phenotype measures across childhood ages from multiple assessors were included. We analyzed phenotype assessments for a total of 328 935 observations from 87 485 children aged between 1.5 and 18 years, while accounting for sample overlap. We also meta-analyzed within subsets of the data, i.e., within rater, instrument and age. SNP-heritability for the overall meta-analysis (AGG overall ) was 3.31% (SE = 0.0038). We found no genome-wide significant SNPs for AGG overall . The gene-based analysis returned three significant genes: ST3GAL3 (P = 1.6E-06), PCDH7 (P = 2.0E-06), and IPO13 (P = 2.5E-06). All three genes have previously been associated with educational traits. Polygenic scores based on our GWAMA significantly predicted aggression in a holdout sample of children (variance explained = 0.44%) and in retrospectively assessed childhood aggression (variance explained = 0.20%). Genetic correlations (r g ) among rater-specific assessment of AGG ranged from r g  = 0.46 between self- and teacher-assessment to r g  = 0.81 between mother- and teacher-assessment. We obtained moderate-to-strong r g s with selected phenotypes from multiple domains, but hardly with any of the classical biomarkers thought to be associated with AGG. Significant genetic correlations were observed with most psychiatric and psychological traits (range [Formula: see text]: 0.19-1.00), except for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Aggression had a negative genetic correlation (r g  = ~-0.5) with cognitive traits and age at first birth. Aggression was strongly genetically correlated with smoking phenotypes (range [Formula: see text]: 0.46-0.60). The genetic correlations between aggression and psychiatric disorders were weaker for teacher-reported AGG than for mother- and self-reported AGG. The current GWAMA of childhood aggression provides a powerful tool to interrogate the rater-specific genetic etiology of AGG., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Introduction and Aims: There is a lack of evidence regarding mental health disorder prevalence in people who use amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). This study compares prevalence in Australian young adults who used ATS and young adults who had never used, and examines potential predictors., Design and Methods: Population-based sampling was used to recruit young adults who used ATS (n = 224) and young adults who had never used ATS (n = 125). Thirty-day prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mania/hypomania were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) of mental disorders in people who used ATS and the comparison group were examined, and a prediction model was developed for people who used ATS., Results: We found higher prevalence of PD (APR 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-19.07, P = 0.032) and PTSD (APR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10-2.55, P = 0.016) in people who used ATS, compared to the comparison group, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Baseline methamphetamine use was positively associated with MDD (ARR 6.45, 95% CI 1.51-27.59, P = 0.012) and GAD (ARR 2.76, 95% CI 1.52-5.02, P = 0.001). Baseline ecstasy use was negatively associated with GAD (ARR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.92, P = 0.025) and PD (ARR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.48, P = 0.001)., Discussion and Conclusion: PTSD and PD appear to be more common in young adults who use ATS. However, the relationship between ATS use and mental disorders is complex, with divergent patterns of association for ecstasy and methamphetamine use. Mental health screening in people using ATS may improve treatment outcomes., (© 2020 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Low physical activity is a major public health concern. There has been extensive research examining the role of physical activity as a potentially modifiable risk factor for the onset of mental illness. However, fewer studies have reported how mental disorders affect future physical activity. Using data from a large birth cohort, the current study explored the association between the longitudinal course of common mental disorders (affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders, as well as any common mental disorder) and subsequent physical activity status among young adults living in Australia. Prospective data from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, consisting of 1611 young adults, were analyzed. The longitudinal course of mental disorder diagnoses between ages 21 and 30 was derived from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Physical activity status at age 30 was estimated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the longitudinal course of common mental disorders between 21 and 30 years and subsequent physical activity status at age 30. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no association between the longitudinal course of affective disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, or any common mental disorder at ages 21 and 30 and physical activity status at age 30. Our findings suggest that there is no longitudinal association between the common mental disorder diagnoses and physical activity status among young adults living in Australia., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Previous studies provide mixed evidence that physical activity engagement (PAE) in adolescence is associated with later mental health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the association between PAE at age 14 and mental health outcomes at age 21 using a large birth cohort study., Material and Methods: Prospective data from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, consisting of 3493 young adults, were analyzed. PAE at age 14 was estimated using self-report, and participants were categorized into; (1) frequent, (2) infrequent, or (3) no PAE group. Mental health outcomes at age 21 consisted of; (1) common mental disorders, (2) psychosis-related outcomes, and, (3) emotional and behavioral problems. The association between PAE in adolescence and later mental health outcomes in young adulthood was examined using logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and adolescent psychopathology., Results: No PAE at age 14 was associated with the increased likelihood of lifetime diagnosis of any affective disorder, elevated delusional ideation, and endorsement of visual perceptual disturbance at age 21. Conversely, infrequent PAE at age 14 was associated with the decreased likelihood of subsequent lifetime diagnosis of any substance use disorder., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that lack of PAE in adolescence influences some, but not all, later mental health outcomes. Interventions to increase PAE in adolescence may represent an opportunity to prevent future mental health problems., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Considerable evidence suggests maternal psychopathology influences that of their offspring. The probability of a reverse causal pathway has been only rarely considered but is a concern, given around 10% of children manifest mental impairment during their early years. This study determines the extent to which child behavior problems at ages 5 and 14 years are associated with mothers' mental health at 21 years post birth., Study Design: Longitudinal study., Methods: Data were taken from a sample of 3650 women from Mater and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy birth cohort. Women's mental health was measured using the Mental Disorder Screening Tool at 21 years post birth. The Child Behavior Check List was used to measure internalizing, combined social/attention/thought disorder, and aggression at the age of 5 and 14 years. Logistic regression was used to derive odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. A number of confounders were used to test for independence., Results: Following all adjustments, child internalizing behaviors and combined social/attention/thought disorder at 5 years, and all measures of child behavior problem at 14 years were associated with mothers meeting criteria for mental health impairment at 21 years post birth. Moreover mothers of children with behavior problems at 14 years were approximately 2-3 times more likely to these meet these criteria., Conclusions: Mothers of children with behavior problems at 5 and 14 years of age were more likely to have mental health impairment at 21 years post birth. Child health professionals should be cognizant of the mother-child relationship having mutual mental health vulnerability., (Copyright © 2017 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders adds complexity to already-significant health burdens. This study tests whether mental health disorders group differently across substance use disorder types and compares associations of early factors with the development of differing comorbidities., Design: Consecutive antenatal clinic attendees were recruited to the longitudinal Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). Mother/offspring dyads were followed over 21 years., Setting: Mater-Misericordiae Public Hospital, Brisbane, Australia., Participants: MUSP offspring with maternal baseline information (n = 7223), offspring behaviour data at 14 (n = 4815) and psychiatric diagnoses at 21 (n = 2575)., Measurements: The Composite International Diagnostic Interview yielded life-time diagnoses of mental health (MH) and substance use (SU) disorders for offspring, then latent class modelling predicted membership of polydisorder groups. We fitted the resulting estimates in multinomial logistic regression models, adjusting for maternal smoking, drinking and mental health, adolescent drinking, smoking and behaviour and mother-child closeness., Findings: Fit indices [Bayesian information criterion (BIC) = 12 415; Akaike information criterion (AIC) = 12 234] from LCA supported a four-class solution: low disorder (73.6%), MH/low SU disorder (10.6%), alcohol/cannabis/low MH disorder (12.2%) and poly SU/moderate MH disorder (3.5%). Adolescent drinking predicted poly SU/MH disorders [odds ratio (OR) = 3.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.42-7.84], while externalizing predicted membership of both SU disorder groups (ORalcohol/cannabis  = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.11-3.75; ORpolysubstance  = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.1-6.08). Maternal smoking during pregnancy predicted MH (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.06-2.23) and alcohol/cannabis-use disorders (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.22-2.45). Low maternal warmth predicted mental health disorders only (OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.32-3.71)., Conclusions: Mental health disorders are more likely in young adults with polysubstance use disorders than those with alcohol/cannabis use disorders. Predictors of comorbid mental health/polysubstance use disorders differ from those for alcohol/cannabis use disorders, and are detectable during adolescence., (© 2015 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Background: Substance and mental health disorders convey significant health burdens and impair interpersonal relationships. We tested associations between comorbid substance and mental health disorders and different forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by young adults., Method: Mothers (n = 6703) were recruited during pregnancy to the longitudinal Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy. Mother/offspring dyads were followed up from birth to 21 years. Offspring with complete psychiatric data at 21 years who reported having had an intimate partnership were included (n = 1781). Participants' experiences of psychological, physical and severe combined IPV were assessed at 21 years using a summarised form of the Composite Abuse Scale. We used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to obtain lifetime diagnoses of mental health and substance disorders. Multivariable logistic regression models of each IPV form were adjusted for individual, family and neighbourhood factors during adolescence, and for other forms of IPV., Results: We have shown specific links between different forms of IPV experienced and individual substance and mental health disorders. Mental health disorders were related to all three forms of IPV, while alcohol disorders were linked to psychological IPV (ORAUD = 1.86; 1.21-2.86) and illicit substance disorders to physical IPV (ORSUD = 2.07; 1.25-3.43). The co-occurrence of related disorders was strongly linked to psychological and physical IPV., Conclusions: Intimate partner violence was experienced by both men and women. Substance and mental health disorders were associated with specific forms of IPV victimisation, suggesting that screening IPV clients and mental health/substance disorder patients for the converse problems may be important for intervention planning., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Co-occurring mental health and alcohol problems appear to be associated with greater health burdens than either single disorder. This study compares familial and individual contributions to development of comorbid alcohol/mental problems and tests whether these differ from single disorders., Design: Women (n = 6703) were recruited during pregnancy to the longitudinal Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). Mother/offspring dyads were followed over 21 years., Setting: Mater-Misericordiae Public Hospital, Brisbane, Australia., Participants: Primary offspring from the MUSP with full psychiatric information at 21 years and maternal information at age 14 (n = 1755)., Measurements: Structured interviews at age 21 yielded a four-category outcome using mental health and alcohol modules of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (no disorder, alcohol only, mental health only and comorbid alcohol/mental health). Multinomial logistic regression models were adjusted for gender, maternal mental health and substance use, family environment and adolescent behaviour., Findings: Maternal smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-2.22 versus no-disorder] and low mother-offspring warmth (OR = 3.19; 95% CI = 1.99-5.13) were associated with mental health/alcohol comorbidity in young adults, as were adolescent drinking (OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.25-3.96), smoking (OR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.33-3.77) and attention/thought problems (OR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.18-3.52). Some differences were seen from single disorders. In a subsample with paternal data, fathers' drinking problems (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.10-5.29) were more associated strongly with offspring mental health/alcohol comorbidity than both single disorders (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Maternal smoking and low mother-child warmth appear to be related to alcohol, mental health and comorbid disorders at age 21, possibly via constituent alcohol and mental health disorders. Adolescent drinking and attention/thought problems appear to be associated with comorbid disorders but not with individual alcohol and mental health disorders., (© 2014 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

This article examines whether young individuals in the general population with comorbid alcohol use and mental health disorders experience worse internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems than those with single disorders. A large cohort of women at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, was enroled during pregnancy in a longitudinal study. Mother/offspring dyads were followed over 21 years. At age 21, offspring behaviour problems were examined using the Young Adult Self Report, alcohol and mental health disorders with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Associations between comorbidity and behaviour problems were assessed using multinomial logistic regression, accounting for life-course factors. Twelve per cent of young adults had alcohol/mental health DSM-IV disorders with significant temporal overlap. A further 16% had alcohol disorders only and 23% mental health disorders only. The comorbid group scored significantly higher on total and externalizing behaviour problems but not internalizing behaviour problems. Stronger associations of aggression/delinquency with comorbidity were not fully accounted for by factors known to influence separate development of mental health and alcohol disorders. Young adults with comorbid alcohol/mental health disorders experience more, and more severe, behavioural problems than those with single disorder types, indicating an increased burden from comorbidity, with implications for treatment and public order., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Alcohol and mental health disorders are highly prevalent in the general population, with co-occurrence recognised as a major public health issue. Socio-economic factors are frequently associated with both disorders but their temporal association is unclear. This paper examines the association between prenatal socio-economic disadvantage and comorbid alcohol and mental health disorders at young adulthood., Methods: An unselected cohort of women was enrolled during early pregnancy in the large longitudinal Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP), at the Mater Misericordiae Public Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. The mothers and their offspring were followed over a 21 year period. Offspring from the MUSP birth cohort who provided full psychiatric information at age 21 and whose mothers provided socioeconomic information at baseline were included (n=2399). Participants were grouped into no-disorder, mental health disorder only, alcohol disorder only or comorbid alcohol and mental health disorders according to DSM-IV diagnoses at age 21 as assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to compare associations of disorder group with single measures of prenatal socio-economic disadvantage including family income, parental education and employment, and then created a cumulative scale of socioeconomic disadvantage., Results: Greater socio-economic disadvantage was more strongly associated with comorbidity (OR 3.36; CI95 1.37, 8.24) than with single disorders. This relationship was not fully accounted for by maternal mental health, smoking and drinking during pregnancy., Conclusion: Multiple domains of socio-economic disadvantage in early life are associated with comorbid alcohol and mental health disorders., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Aims: The Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) is a validated culturally appropriate and widely used tool in the community for assessing substance use and mental disorder. This research aimed to assess the utility of this tool in an Indigenous prison population., Design and Methods: The study used data collected from a cross-sectional study of mental health among Indigenous inmates in Queensland custodial centres (n = 395, 84% male). Participants were administered a modified version of the IRIS and International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnoses of substance use, depressive and anxiety disorders obtained using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The concurrent validity of the modified IRIS was assessed against those of the CIDI., Results: Three hundred and twelve people screened as high risk for a substance use disorder and 179 were high risk for mental problems. There were 73% of males and 88% of females diagnosed with a mental disorder. The IRIS was an effective screener for substance use disorders, with high sensitivity of 94% and low specificity of 33%. The screener was less effective in identifying depression (sensitivity 82%, specificity 59%) and anxiety (sensitivity 68%, specificity 60%)., Discussion: The IRIS is the first culturally appropriate screening instrument to be validated for the risk of drug and alcohol and mental disorder among Indigenous adults in custody., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the IRIS is a valid tool for screening of alcohol and drug use risk among an incarcerated Indigenous population. The IRIS could offer an opportunity to improve the identification, treatment and health outcomes for incarcerated Indigenous adults., (© 2013 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Purpose: There is little known about the association between breastfeeding and long-term child psychopathology. This study aimed to examine the impact of breastfeeding on child mental health and problem behavior at 14 years and whether this association is confounded by other variables., Subjects and Methods: Data were from a pre-birth prospective study that included mothers and their children followed up from pregnancy to 14 years of the child's age in Brisbane, Australia. The child's anxiety/depression, withdrawal problems, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, aggression, and delinquency were measured using the Achenbach Youth Self Report at 14 years. Breastfeeding was prospectively assessed at the 6-month follow-up of the study. The analysis was based on 4,502 adolescents who responded to the YSR questionnaire and for whom prospective data were available on breastfeeding., Results: Breastfeeding as reported by mothers when the child was 6 months old predicted reduced symptoms of child mental health and problem behavior at 14 years. The impact of breastfeeding on the child's social problems, attention problems, and aggressive behavior remained statistically significant after controlling for the effect of other variables, such as unplanned pregnancy, maternal mental health, and substance use during pregnancy., Conclusions: Our data suggest that breastfeeding for at least 4 months can have a significant protective effect on a child's social, attention, and aggression problems in early adolescence. Given the limitations of the existing evidence, further research is needed to investigate the robustness of the findings of this study and the mechanisms of long-term association between breastfeeding and reduced social, attention, and aggression problems of the offspring in adolescence.

Aim: To determine whether there are different health needs associated with differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in detention in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia., Methods: All records of young people (aged 10 to 21 years) taken into detention in Brisbane Queensland over the period 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2009 were reviewed, and data were extracted documenting the mental health and related behaviours of those referred to the Mental Health, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems - Tenth Revision (ICD-10) criteria were applied to a clinical interview. ICD-10 diagnostic outcomes and reason for referral are presented by Indigenous status and age., Results: Young male (under 14 years of age) Indigenous respondents are substantially over-represented in youth in detention. Indigenous youth in detention are disproportionately referred and diagnosed with a substance use problem. Referral and diagnosis of substance use problems was not as commonly found for non-Indigenous youth., Conclusions: Young Indigenous persons are substantially over-represented in those taken into detention in Queensland. This study shows significant differences in relation to mental health and substance use assessment outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people in youth detention in Queensland. Further research focusing on service delivery for Indigenous young people should focus on their specific needs., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2012 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)

Aims: To examine whether child and adolescent psychopathology predicts subsequent tobacco use at 14 and 21 years of age., Design: Prospective birth cohort study., Setting: Data are taken from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes (MUSP), a prospective longitudinal study which recruited women at their first antenatal visit in Brisbane, Australia., Participants: A 5-, 14- and 21-year follow-up of children whose mother's were recruited into the MUSP birth cohort study at their first antenatal visit., Measurements: Psychopathology exposure was measured using the Achenbach's Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) at 5 years, the Youth Self Report (YSR) at 14 years and the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) at 21 years. Outcome measures were the children's tobacco smoking status at the 14 and 21 years' follow-up and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) based DSM-IV nicotine dependence at 21 years' follow-up., Findings: Externalizing symptoms had the strongest association with subsequent tobacco use. Children who met the criteria for CBCL aggression at 5 years were more likely to be tobacco smokers at the 14-year follow-up. YSR externalizing behaviours at the 14-year follow-up predicted tobacco smoking, but not DSM-IV nicotine dependence at the 21-year follow-up. Internalizing behaviour (anxiety/depression) was associated with a reduced rate of smoking at the 14- and 21-year follow-ups, but externalizing behaviour and attention problems at 14 and 21 years were associated separately and cumulatively with nicotine dependence at the 21-year follow-up., Conclusion: Childhood and adolescent psychopathology predict tobacco smoking, but some forms of psychopathology predict increased (aggression/delinquency; attention problems) and other forms decreased (anxiety/depression) smoking. There may be some benefits in targeting children with early onset aggressive/delinquent behaviour problems with tobacco smoking prevention initiatives., (© 2012 The Authors, Addiction © 2012 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Objective: To examine the socio-demographic characteristics of young adults' gambling and its association with mental health and substance use behaviour., Methods: The study is based on 3,512 young adults (1648 males) for whom data from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) were available on self-report gambling, gambling expenditure, Achenbach's Young Adult Self Report and substance use at the 21-year follow-up of the MUSP. The participants' age ranged between 18.2 and 23.6 (mean = 20.6, standard deviation = 0.8) years., Results: Two-fifths of the young adults reported gambling. Males reported more money spent on gambling and were significantly more likely to be at risk of problem gambling. Gambling and problem gambling were significantly more common in less-educated individuals, those who had higher income or those who had a paid job. Individuals who reported gambling were more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink more than a glass of alcohol per day, use illicit drugs, or exhibit high levels of externalising behaviour than non-gamblers., Conclusions: The findings confirm the high prevalence of gambling and gambling expenditure in young adults. Individuals who are involved in gambling are more likely to report cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and use of illicit drugs. There is a need for further research to explore the mechanisms of association between gambling behaviour and individuals' mental health and substance use., Implications: Substance abuse and mental health services are recommended to consider co-morbid gambling problems in treatment-seeking patients., (© 2012 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2012 Public Health Association of Australia.)

A substantial minority of children are born as a consequence of an unplanned pregnancy. Yet little is known about the impact of unplanned/unwanted pregnancy (UP) on long-term health outcomes for children. This study aimed to examine the association between UP and child mental health and behavioural problems at 14 years, and whether this association is confounded or mediated by other variables. Data were from a pre-birth prospective study that included 4765 mothers and their children (48.4% female and 51.6% male) followed up from pregnancy to 14 years of the child's age in Brisbane, Australia. Child anxiety/depression, aggression, delinquency, attention problems, withdrawal problems, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, internalizing, externalizing and total problems were measured using the Achenbach's Youth Self Report at 14 years. Child smoking and alcohol consumption were self-reported at 14 years. UP was prospectively assessed at the first antenatal visit of pregnancy. UP as reported by mothers at first antenatal visit predicted elevated levels of problem behaviours and increased substance use in children at 14 years. The impact of UP on child mental health and problem behaviours is partly due to the confounding effect of other variables, such as maternal socio-demographic status, mental health and substance use during pregnancy. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanism of association between UP and child aggression and early alcohol consumption at 14 years., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the association between psychiatric disorders, asthma, and lung function in young adults., Study Design: Data were from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). The study was based on 2443 young adults (1193 male and 1250 female) for whom data were available on psychiatric disorders, asthma, and respiratory function. Life time and last 12 months' generalized anxiety, panic, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive disorders were assessed using a computerised version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-Auto). A Spirobank G spirometer system was used to measure forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF(25-75%))., Results: Participants with mental health disorders were more likely to have experienced asthma before or to use asthma medication at 21 years. However, for both males and females, life time and last 12 months' experience of generalized anxiety, panic, PTSD, and depressive disorders were not statistically significantly associated with FVC, FEV(1), and FEF(25-75%), except a modest association with major depressive disorders for males., Conclusion: There is an association between mental health and asthma, but the relationship between mental health and lung function appeared to be confounded by the respondent's gender. More narrowly based prospective studies are required to determine the causal pathway between mental disorders and asthma.

We examined whether behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence are associated with young adults' BMI and obesity, and tested whether childhood behavioral problems have a greater impact on young adults' obesity than adolescent behavioral problems. The data were from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) and Its Outcomes, a population-based birth cohort study commenced in Brisbane, Australia, in 1981. A subsample of 2,278 children for whom we had prospective information on their behavioral problems at ages 5 and 14 and measured BMI, and its categories (normal, overweight, and obese) at age 21 was chosen. Young adults who experienced behavioral problems at ages 5 or 14 had a greater average BMI and were more likely to be obese compared to young adults without behavioral problems at both ages. The childhood onset group was at greater risk of becoming obese by age 21 compared to the adolescent onset group (P = 0.04). These associations remained consistent after adjusting for a variety of potential covariates including maternal characteristics (i.e., demographics and life style), child dietary patterns, family meals, television (TV) watching, and participation in sports and exercise at 14 years. Childhood as well as persistent behavioral problems during childhood and adolescence predicts young adults' BMI and obesity. Although further studies are needed to confirm this association, there is a need for close monitoring of children presenting with behavioral problems.

Background: Recent evidence has linked induced abortion with later adverse psychiatric outcomes in young women., Aims: To examine whether abortion or miscarriage are associated with subsequent psychiatric and substance use disorders., Method: A sample (n=1223) of women from a cohort born between 1981 and 1984 in Australia were assessed at 21 years for psychiatric and substance use disorders and lifetime pregnancy histories., Results: Young women reporting a pregnancy loss had nearly three times the odds of experiencing a lifetime illicit drug disorder (excluding cannabis): abortion odds ratio (OR)=3.6 (95% CI 2.0-6.7) and miscarriage OR=2.6 (95% CI 1.2-5.4). Abortion was associated with alcohol use disorder (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5) and 12-month depression (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.1)., Conclusions: These findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that pregnancy loss per se, whether abortion or miscarriage, increases the risk of a range of substance use disorders and affective disorders in young women.

Depression in childhood or adolescence is associated with increased rates of depression in adulthood. Does this justify efforts to detect (and treat) those with symptoms of depression in early childhood or adolescence? The aim of this study was to determine how well symptoms of anxiety/depression (A-D) in early childhood and adolescence predict adult mental health. The study sample is taken from a population-based prospective birth cohort study. Of the 8556 mothers initially approached to participate 8458 agreed, of whom 7223 mothers gave birth to a live singleton baby. Children were screened using modified Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) scales for internalizing and total problems (T-P) at age 5 and the CBCL and Youth Self Report (YSR) A-D subscale and T-P scale at age 14. At age 21, a sub-sample of 2563 young adults in this cohort were administered the CIDI-Auto. Results indicated that screening at age 5 would detect few later cases of significant mental ill-health. Using a cut-point of 20% for internalizing at child age 5 years the CBCL had sensitivities of only 25% and 18% for major depression and anxiety disorders at 21 years, respectively. At age 14, the YSR generally performed a little better than the CBCL as a screening instrument, but neither performed at a satisfactory level. Of the children who were categorised as having YSR A-D at 14 years 30% and 37% met DSM-IV criteria for major depression and anxiety disorders, respectively, at age 21. Our findings challenge an existing movement encouraging the detection and treatment of those with symptoms of mental illness in early childhood.

Aims: To investigate pathways to ecstasy use disorders from pre-birth to early adulthood with particular attention to the relationship between early depressive and anxiety symptoms and later ecstasy use disorders., Design: Prospective, longitudinal, population-based study started in Brisbane, South East Queensland (Australia) in 1981. Participants were 2143 young adults, followed up from pre-birth to young adulthood., Measurements: Ecstasy use disorders were assessed with the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI-Auto). Maternal socio-economic position and mental health status were assessed at baseline (antenatal visit); maternal substance use was measured at the 5-year follow-up, adolescents' behaviour at the 5- and 14-year follow-up and tobacco and alcohol use were assessed at the 14-year follow-up., Findings: Eight syndrome scales of childhood behaviour were examined. After adjustment for important confounders, delinquent and aggressive behaviour in early adolescence remained significantly associated with ecstasy use disorders in early adulthood. The associations became statistically non-significant when adolescent tobacco and alcohol use were included in the model [OR=1.50 (95%CI=0.75, 3.01) for delinquency and OR=1.69 (95%CI=0.92, 3.12) for aggression]. Formal mediation tests were statistically significant (p=0.001 for delinquent behaviour and p=0.05 for aggressive behaviour)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest a pathway from early deviant behaviour to ecstasy use disorders, possibly mediated through licit drug experimentation in early adolescence.

Objective: Previous studies have linked maternal smoking during pregnancy with behavioral disturbance in children. However, additional evidence is needed to address the causality of the relationship. The present study analyses result from an Australian cohort of 5342 5-year-old children whose mothers were recruited early in pregnancy., Methods: Smoking history was gathered for prepregnancy, first clinic visit (FCV), late pregnancy, and when the child was 6 months and 5 years of age. Behavior problems at the age of 5 were assessed using a modified Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) shown to have high agreement with the complete CBCL. This resulted in the formation of three scales: internalizing; social, attentional and thought; and externalizing behavior problems, which were then dichotimized at the 90th percentile in each case. Logistic regression was used to model these outcomes as a function of maternal smoking at five time points during which it was assessed. A series of models explored the effect of additional adjustment for confounding. The predictors of attrition (29.5%) throughout the cohort were also identified by multivariate modeling., Results: The final analysis was carried out on a cohort of mother-child pairs for whom data and child behavior outcomes were complete. The mean age of children was 5 years, 6 months with a range from 4 to 6 years. The mean age of mothers at the time of birth of the child was 25 years, with a range from 13 to 47 years. Mothers lost to follow-up were more likely to be younger, single, and less well-educated than those who continued participation, although maternal smoking was not an independent determinant. Unadjusted analyses showed strong associations between externalizing child behavior and maternal smoking during pregnancy and at the 5-year follow-up, with relative risks (RRs) up to 2.6 for children of women smoking at least 20 cigarettes per day at the first antenatal clinic visit. A clear dose-response relationship existed in most relationships with higher levels of smoking being associated with higher rates of externalizing behavior problems. Weaker relationships occurred for internalizing behavior and social, attentional and thought behavior problems. Multivariate analysis of the timing in more detail that the association between maternal smoking and child behavior problems persisted, although the evidence for dose-response diminished. Moreover, it was primarily associated with smoking as determined by questions asked at the FCV (RR = 1.52, 2.03, 2.16) for 1 to 9, 10 to 19, and >/=20 cigarettes per day, respectively, compared with nonsmoking and secondarily by smoking determined at the 5-year follow-up (RR = 1.52, 1.87, 1.29) for 1 to 9, 10 to 19, and >/=20 cigarettes per day respectively, compared with nonsmoking. This association appeared to be independent of a wide range of possible confounders such as maternal age, education, social class, marital status and mental health, gestation at FCV, complications during pregnancy, the child's sex, gestational age at birth, and age at last follow-up. Adjustments were also made for the mother's employment since birth, family structure, and maternal mental health at the time of the CBCL assessment. Associations between externalizing behavior problems and maternal smoking at other times, and those between other behavioral problems examined and maternal smoking were not significant., Conclusion: Although previous studies have found evidence for an association between maternal smoking and child behavior problems, the strength of this study lies in its size, its detailed and consistent measurement of maternal smoking, and its ability to control for many social and biological factors linked to maternal smoking and child behavior. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)