Are we prepared to prevent youth depression?

In this blog, Jasmin Wertz considers a systematic review, which aimed to establish whether there is evidence to support the implementation and dissemination of programs to prevent childhood and adolescent depression.

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Smoking bans linked to healthier outcomes for children

In this co-authored blog, Victoria Simms and Jennifer Hanratty consider a recent systematic review, which aimed to assess the effectiveness of the introduction of smoke-free legislation on child health outcomes.

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Can computers replace therapists? Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for pain in children

Compuer CBT can be accessed anywhere

New bloggers Tania Bosqui and Julie Brown highlight a systematic review from 2010 on (computerised cognitive behavioural therapy) cCBT for chronic pain in children.

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To nap or not to nap?

Jennifer Hanratty critically appraises and summarises a new systematic review of napping, child health and development from 0-5 years, which suggests that children should stop taking day-time naps at age 2 or risk disrupting their night-time sleep.

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Can children be supported to make decisions about their own health care?

Nobody likes being left out, especially when it comes to making decisions that can have a big effect on you. There’s a lot of discussion in the NHS at the moment around shared decision making and it mostly focuses on adults. But what about the children…Won’t somebody please think of the children?! From a children’s rights [read the full story…]

Motivational interviewing does not prevent alcohol misuse in young people

This new Cochrane systematic review finds that motivational interviewing has no effect on reducing alcohol-related problems or risky behaviours such as drunk driving in young people.

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Face-to-face psychotherapy for chronic pain in children and adolescents: Cochrane review calls for better primary research

Lisa Burscheidt summarises a recent Cochrane review of psychotherapy for chronic pain in children and adolescents, which concludes that psychological therapies should be considered as a treatment, but better primary studies are needed to help steer pain management decisions.

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Kinship care may be a viable out-of-home placement option for maltreated children, but more research is needed

Lisa Burscheidt reports on a recent Cochrane review that looks at the effects of kinship care versus traditional foster care for the safety, permanency and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment.

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Systematic review identifies key parenting factors associated with adolescent depression and anxiety

Parenting is a tough gig. As a mum of three, I can honestly say that nothing in my everyday professional life comes close to the trials and tribulations of guiding small people through toddlerhood and beyond. Parenting advice comes thick and fast from all corners, most of it unsolicited, some of it anecdotal, much of [read the full story…]