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This study extends the limited research on predictors of completion of adolescent residential drug and alcohol program. A Queensland, Australia, five-bed state-wide voluntary adolescent drug and alcohol withdrawal service collected routine clinical pre-entry data over a period of 9 years (2000–2009) on 524 subjects. Potential predictors of program completion included socio-demographic, family functioning, past mental health history, mental health problems on admission, and patterns of drug use variables. The chi-square analysis identified significant predictors with subsequent multivariate logistic regression modeling. Given the loss of data, additional multiple imputation logistic regression analysis was utilized. Initial predictors were aged 17 and over; a past history of psychiatric treatment or violence or assault; mental health problems identified on entry; absence of current alcohol use or ecstasy use. After regression and multiple imputation modeling, predictors were a history of psychiatric treatment and of violence/assault. A history of co-morbidity rather than traditional markers of good outcomes such as sex, ethnic background, income support, and housing support predicted program retention. The study reinforces the important role of non-substance psychiatry co-morbidity in the treatment of substance use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This explorative study aims to provide insight into impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated restrictions, on mental health of children and adolescents treated at Child and Youth Mental Health Services, and their parents. Method: The COVID‐19 Mental Health Survey was disseminated to parents of children and adolescents under treatment at community Child and Youth Mental Health Services (Brisbane, Australia) between July–November 2020 throughout different stages of COVID‐19 related restrictions. Parents of 110 children participated. Results: Most reported child's symptoms were sadness (46%), anxiety (60%), lack of focus (61%), lack of joy in their usual activities (38%) and reduction in sleep (42%). Parental emotions were significantly correlated with their child's emotions. Parent's lack of enjoyment of usual activities had the overall strongest average correlation (0.27) but this was no longer significant once other variables were controlled for. Children who attended school remotely for some of the days had a significantly (p <.05) higher risk of having more reported symptoms. Interestingly, in later stages of the lockdown with further easing of restrictions, symptoms also tended to be more severe. Conclusion: Cross‐sectional data on children and adolescents in Queensland, Australia with pre‐existing mental health issues suggests mental health continued to deteriorate through the pandemic even as restrictions eased. Changes in schooling seem to be an especially important risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the association between maternal anxiety from pregnancy to 5 years and child attention problems at 5 and 14 years. Method: Birth cohort of 3,982 individuals born in Brisbane between 1981 and 1983 are assessed. Self-reported measures of maternal anxiety are assessed at four time points. Maternal reports of child attention problems using Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist are assessed at 5 and 14 years. Results: Children of mothers experiencing anxiety during or after pregnancy are at greater risk of experiencing attention problems at 5 and 14 years. After adjusting for maternal age and child's gender, antenatal anxiety is strongly associated with persistent attention problems (OR = 3.65, 95% CI = 2.19, 6.07). Children with chronically anxious mothers are 5.67 (95% CI = 3.56, 9.03) times more likely to have persistent attention problems. These associations remain consistent after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions: Maternal anxiety appears to increase the rate of child attention problems and identifies a need for treatment programs to have a dual focus--the mother and her child. (Contains 3 tables.)

This report describes the 3 year outcomes of three different variants of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, a behavioural family intervention. Families were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions or to a waitlist condition. At 1 year follow-up there were similar improvements on observational and self-report measures of preschooler disruptive behaviour for Enhanced, Standard and Self Directed variants of Triple P. At 3 year follow-up (completed by 139 families), each condition showed a similar level of maintenance of intervention effects. Approximately 2/3 of preschoolers who were clinically elevated on measures of disruptive behaviour at pre-intervention moved from the clinical to the non-clinical range. Across conditions, there was a comparable preventive effect for each intervention for these high risk children. The implications of the findings for the development of brief, cost effective parenting interventions within a public health framework are discussed.

Objective: To examine whether age of first use or frequency of use of cannabis is associated with anxiety and depression (AD) in young adults, independent of known potential confounders, including the use of other illicit drugs. Method: A cohort of 3,239 Australian young adults was followed from birth to the age of 21 when data on AD were obtained from sample members along with information on their use of cannabis at 21 years. Potential confounding factors were prospectively measured when the child was born and at 14 years. Results: After controlling for confounding factors, those who started using cannabis before age 15 years and used it frequently at 21 years were more likely to report symptoms of AD in early adulthood (odds ratio 3.4; 95% CI 1.9-6.1). This association was of similar magnitude for those who had only used cannabis and those who reported having used cannabis and other illicit drugs. Conclusion: The relationship between early-onset and frequent use of cannabis and symptoms of AD is independent of individual and family backgrounds. Frequent cannabis use is associated with increased AD in young adults independently of whether the person also uses other illicit drugs. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

Examined longitudinally the relationship between biological and social risk factors and aggressive behavior patterns among high-risk Australian adolescents in three groups: early-onset persistent aggression, adolescent-onset aggression, and nonaggressive behavior groups. Findings revealed that the interaction of biological and social risk factors was significantly related to early-onset persistent aggression. Gender and developmental measurement phase moderated the relationship between biosocial risks and the outcomes of early-onset persistent aggression and adolescent-onset aggression. (Author/KB)

Examined preschool children's behavior problems as a consequence of mother's social and economic characteristics; maternal lifestyle; maternal mental state and child-rearing practices; and maternal and child physical health. Found that major predictors of toddler behavior problems were mother and child health and mother's mental state. Findings pose health policy implications. (JPB)

Objectives. We determined whether exposure to family poverty over a child's early life course predicts adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. Methods. We used a birth cohort study of a sample of women in Brisbane, Australia, who were recruited in early pregnancy and whose children were followed up on at ages 14 and 21 years. Some 2609 mothers and adolescents provided usable data at the 14-and 21-year follow-ups. Results. After adjustment for poverty at other phases, poverty at the 14-year follow-up was the strongest predictor of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. The more frequently the child was exposed to poverty, the greater was the risk of that individual being anxious and depressed at both the 14- and 21-year follow-ups. Conclusions. Family poverty predicts higher rates of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. Increased frequency of child exposure to poverty is a consistent predictor of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. Repeated experiences of poverty over a child's early life course are associated with increased levels of poor mental health. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100: 1719-1723. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.180943)

Objective: To investigate whether maternal smoking during pregnancy predicts offspring nicotine disorder (dependence or withdrawal) at 21 years. Method: Participants comprised a prospective birth cohort involving 7,223 singleton children whose mothers were enrolled between 1981 and 1983 at the first antenatal visit to the Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. The present sub-cohort consisted of 2,571 youth who completed the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-computerised version (CIDI-Auto) that assesses nicotine dependence and withdrawal according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria at the 21 -year follow-up. Results: 12.8% of offspring met criteria for nicotine dependence and 8.5% met criteria for withdrawal. 16.6% met criteria for either dependence or withdrawal. Smoking during pregnancy resulted in offspring being more likely to have dependence or withdrawal at 21 years than offspring of mothers who never smoked (age adjusted odds ratio 1.53 (95% Ch 1.19-1.96). Conclusions: Findings emphasise the long-term adverse effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy, including nicotine dependence in young adult offspring. Implications: Public health approaches should strengthen arguments for mothers to cease smoking during pregnancy in view of the long-term health implications for offspring, and reinforce measures to help smokers among pregnant women and women of childbearing age to stop. Key words: nicotine disorder, nicotine dependence, maternal smoking, birth cohort, young adult. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2009.00410.x