Objectives: Childhood maltreatment (CM), widely held as a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUDs), is commonly assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Retrospective self-reports are, however, potentially subject to bias. We used a unique patient sample with prospectively documented CM to examine the performance of the CTQ and how this is affected by the presence of SUD.

Methods: Analysis was based on a total of 104 individuals. Subjects with prospectively recorded CM were identified from a specialized childhood trauma unit in Linköping, Sweden (n = 55; 31 with SUD, 61% females; 24 without SUD, 71% females). Clinical controls had SUD but no CM (n = 25, 48% females). Healthy controls had neither SUD nor CM (n = 24, 54% females). We analyzed the agreement between retrospective CTQ scores and prospectively documented CM by κ analysis and assessed the performance of the CTQ to identify CM exposure using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results: Agreement between prospectively and retrospectively recorded CM exposure was poor for sexual abuse (36.6%, Cohen κ = 0.32, P = 0.008) and physical abuse (67.3%, κ = 0.35, P = 0.007). Overall CTQ performance was fair (ROC: area under the ROC curve = 0.78, optimal cutoff = 36.5, sensitivity = 0.65, specificity = 0.75). However, performance was excellent in the absence of SUD (area under the ROC curve = 0.93, cutoff = 32.0, sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.88), but poor in participants with lifetime SUD (area under the ROC curve = 0.62, cutoff = 42.0, sensitivity = 0.60, specificity = 0.36).

Conclusions: These data support the CTQ as a tool to assess CM exposure but suggest that it may be less useful in patients with SUD.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUD) in adulthood. Understanding the mechanisms by which people are susceptible or resilient to developing SUD after exposure to CM is important for improving intervention. This case-control study investigated the impact of prospectively assessed CM on biomarkers of endocannabinoid function and emotion regulation in relation to the susceptibility or resilience to developing SUD. Four groups were defined across the dimensions of CM and lifetime SUD (N = 101 in total). After screening, participants completed two experimental sessions on separate days, aimed at assessing the behavioral, physiological, and neural mechanisms involved in emotion regulation. In the first session, participants engaged in tasks assessing biochemical (i.e., cortisol, endocannabinoids), behavioral, and psychophysiological indices of stress and affective reactivity. During the second session, the behavioral and brain mechanisms associated with emotion regulation and negative affect were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging. CM-exposed adults who did not develop SUD, operationally defined as resilient to developing SUD, had higher peripheral levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide at baseline and during stress exposure, compared to controls. Similarly, this group had increased activity in salience and emotion regulation regions in task-based measures of emotion regulation compared to controls, and CM-exposed adults with lifetime SUD. At rest, the resilient group also showed significantly greater negative connectivity between ventromedial prefrontal cortex and anterior insula compared to controls and CM-exposed adults with lifetime SUD. Collectively, these peripheral and central findings point to mechanisms of potential resilience to developing SUD after documented CM exposure.

Background Adherence to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication can prevent serious consequences, possibly with lifelong effects. Numerous factors have been observed that influence adherent behaviour, but the impact of personality traits has been inadequately explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between personality traits and adherence to ADHD medication, beliefs about the medication, and perceptions of ADHD. Method Adolescents (n = 99) on ADHD medication were administered: Health-Relevant Personality Traits Five-Factor Inventory, Medication Adherence Report Scale, Beliefs about Medicines Specific and Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaires. Results The personality trait Antagonism correlated with adherence behaviour (r = - 0.198, p = 0.005) and perceived personal control of ADHD (r = - 0.269, p = 0.007). Negative Affectivity correlated with beliefs regarding necessity (r = 0.319, p = 0.001), concerns (r = 0.344, p = 0.001), and experienced side effects of medication (r = 0.495, p = 0.001), alongside perceptions regarding duration (r = 0.272, p = 0.007), identity (r = 0.388, p < 0.001), being emotionally affected (r = 0.374, p < 0.01), personal control (r = - 0.287, p = 0.004) and concerns about ADHD (r = 0.465, p < 0.001). Impulsivity correlated with perceived consequences (r = - 0.226, p = 0.0255) and personal control of ADHD (r = - 0.379, p < 0.001). Hedonic Capacity correlated with concerns about medication (r = - 0.218, p = 0.0316) and perceived identification with ADHD (r = - 0.203, p = 0.045). Conclusion Personality traits are related to adherence, beliefs about ADHD medicines and perceptions of ADHD. Antagonism is associated with adherence, especially intentional non-adherence, while Negative Affectivity correlates with numerous perceptions of ADHD and beliefs about medications. Personality assessments could be useful in the care and treatment of adolescents with ADHD.

Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder (NSSID) is a condition in need of further study, especially in adolescent and clinical populations where it is particularly prevalent and studies are limited. Twenty-nine clinical self-injuring adolescents were included in the study. The Clinical Assessment of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder Index (CANDI) was used to assess prevalence of NSSID. The NSSID diagnosis criteria were met by 62.1% of adolescents. The impairment or distress criterion was least often met. Criteria B and C (assessing reasons for NSSI and cognitions/emotions prior to NSSI) were confirmed by 96-100% of all participants. Adolescents with NSSI in this clinical sample had several comorbidities and high levels of psychopathology. NSSID occurred both in combination with and independently of borderline personality disorder traits as well as suicide plans and attempts. Those with NSSID had a significantly higher cutting frequency than those not meeting full NSSID criteria. Other NSSI characteristics, comorbidity, psychopathology, and trauma experiences did not differ between groups. CANDI was a feasible tool to assess NSSID in adolescents. It is important to use structured measures to assess the validity of the NSSID diagnosis across development in both community and clinical samples. The clinical utility of the NSSID diagnosis is discussed.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of Swedish translations of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-Specific (BMQ-Specific) and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) for use in adolescents with ADHD. Methods: Forward and backward translations of the BMQ-Specific and B-IPQ scales to Swedish were conducted and reviewed by adolescents with ADHD and professionals. The validity and reliability of both questionnaires were investigated in a cross-sectional study of 101 adolescents (13?17?years) on a long-term prescription of ADHD medication recruited from two child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics in Sweden. Results: Regarding the BMQ-Specific, principal component analysis (PCA) loadings confirmed the previously defined components of Specific-Necessity and Specific-Concern. The PCA for B-IPQ revealed two components, the first one, B-IPQ Consequences, captured questions regarding perceptions of the implication of having ADHD (items 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8) and the second one, B-IPQ-Control, the perceptions of the capability to manage the ADHD disorder (items 3, 4 and 7). The Cronbach alpha coefficients for BMQ-Specific-Necessity scale was ??=?0.80, for BMQ-Specific-Concern scale ??=?0.75, B-IPQ Consequences ??=?0.74 and for B-IPQ-Control ??=?0.44. Conclusions: The present results prove the Swedish translation of BMQ-Specific and B-IPQ to be valid and reliable for utilization in adolescents with ADHD. The PCA confirmed the original components for BMQ-Specific and the recent findings of two main B-IPQ components describing emotional and cognitive implications versus the capability for self-care maintenance of ADHD.

Background: Interpersonal stress and perceived rejection have been clinically observed as common triggers of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), with self-injury behavior regulating both affective and social experiences. We investigated whether the subjective interpretation of social interaction in a simulated online environment might be biased in the NSSI group, and the brain mechanisms underlying the experience.

Methods: Thirty female adolescent patients with NSSI and thirty female age-matched controls were investigated in this case-control study. In our novel task that simulates interaction on current social media platforms, participants indicated whether they liked or disliked pictures of other players during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. Participants also viewed positive and negative feedback directed toward them by others. The task also assessed the subjective effects of the social interaction. Finally, subjects underwent a separate facial electromyography session, which measured facial expressions processing.

Outcomes: Behaviorally, the NSSI group showed a negative bias in processing social feedback from others. A multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) identified brain regions that robustly classified NSSI subjects and controls. Regions in which mutual activity contributed to the classification included dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, a region implicated in mood control. In the NSSI group, multi-voxel classification scores correlated with behavioral sensitivity to negative feedback from others. Results remained significant after controlling for medication, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

Interpretation: This study identified behavioral and neural signatures of adolescents with NSSI during social interaction in a simulated social media environment. These findings highlight the importance of understanding social information processing in this clinical population and can potentially advance treatment approaches.

I januari 2018 gav regeringen Barnafrid, nationellt centrum för kunskap om våld mot barn, vid Linköpings universitet, i uppdrag att att utvärdera barnahusverksamheterna i Sverige. I uppdraget (Uppdrag angående utvärdering av barnahus S2018/00212/FST) skriver Socialdepartementet att det är angeläget att den samverkan som sker inom barnahus uppfyller de kriterier som finns för vad som ska känneteckna verksamheterna samt att de nationella riktlinjerna är ändamålsenliga (Rikspolisstyrelsen, 2009). I uppdraget önskades identifiering av goda exempel och eventuella brister i syfte att främja ett kvalitativt och likvärdigt bemötande för brottsutsatta barn. I uppdraget anges vidare att ”en utvärdering belyser kvalitet, behovsuppfyllnad, eventuella skillnader och de konsekvenser sådana skillnader kan få för de barn som utgör målgruppen och kan på så sätt utgöra ett viktigt underlag för berörda myndigheter.” I uppdraget ingår inte att lämna åtgärdsförslag.

Inom ramen för utvärderingen besöktes 32 barnahus under september 2018 – februari 2019. Vid varje Barnahus genomfördes gruppintervjuer med Barnahusens samverkansparter och samordnare utifrån en intervjuguide. Intervjuerna har analyserats tematiskt utifrån befintliga nationella riktlinjer och kriterier. Då Barnahusen saknar heltäckande statistik för sina verksamheter baseras utvärderingens resultat på egenrapporterad praxis, med andra ord det samverkansparterna och samordnarna själva uppgav att de gör. Därtill inkom Barnahusen med skriftligt material (aktuella samverkansavtal, lokala riktlinjer och rutiner, verksamhetsberättelser, informationsmaterial med mera) och ledamöter i styrgrupper eller motsvarande ombads besvara en enkät med frågor om det egna Barnahuset.

I utvärderingen konstateras att det finns många välfungerande barnahus men att det förekommer regionala skillnader i Barnahusens organisation och verksamhet. 68 kommuner, främst i Norra Sverige, Jämtland, Halland och sydöstra delar av Sverige, står utanför Barnahusverksamheten.

De främsta brister som lyfts fram av de intervjuade gäller otydligheter i de nationella riktlinjerna (tex. sekretess och den särskilda företrädarens kompetens och roll) samt tillgång till rättsmedicinsk, barnmedicinsk och barn- och ungdomspsykiatrisk kompetens. Det finns beredskap att ge krisstöd till barnet och hens föräldrar, ibland även till trygghetspersonen, efter barnförhör. Uppgifter om i vilken omfattning krisstöd/ behandling erbjuds saknas i denna utvärdering. Det efterfrågas nationell styrning, översikt av de nationella riktlinjerna i samråd med alla Barnahusens samverkansparter, statistik och certifiering av barnahusen. Det finns även behov av att se över målgruppsdefinitionen och att alla Barnahus arbetar utifrån dessa. Utredningen fann brister särskilt då det gällde barn som som bevittnat våld, internetbrott och i vissa fall hedersrelaterat våld.

Ur ett barnperspektiv medför de konstaterade regionala skillnaderna en risk för ett icke likvärdigt bemötande, stöd och skydd. Detta kan yttra sig i form av olikheter bland annat gällande definition av målgrupper för Barnahusen, krisstöd och bedömning av vårdbehov, tillgång till barnmedicinsk och barn- och ungdomspsykiatrisk vård, möjlighet att erbjuda frivilliga hälsokontroller samt att tillgodose syskons behov av stöd och behandling. Läget ter sig problematisk för åldersgruppen 15-18 åringar, som nödvändigtvis inte kommer i kontakt med Barnahus.

Sammanfattningsvis kan man konstatera att det har sedan 2013 tillkommit ytterligare ett antal Barnahus samtidigt som de grundläggande problemen som belysts i de tidigare utredningarna kvarstår. Det finns dock utrymme för förbättringar då det gäller det multiprofessionella teamarbetet och det tvärsektionella samarbetet, men de stora utmaningarna finns då det gäller behovet av en enhetlig nationell styrning som slår fast att barn som misstänks vara utsatta för brott ska utredas i en barnvänlig miljö där brörda myndigheter samlas och samverkar under ett tak, och där brottsutredning, skydd, samt fysisk och psykisk hälsa beaktas. Vidare saknas en nationell samordning av verksamheten i Barnahus. Befintlig sekretesslagstiftning försvårar samverkan och gör det svårt för Barnahusen att leva upp till de nationella kriterierna. Lagstiftningen förhindrar även gemensam statistikföring och försvårar därmed uppföljning och planering av verksamheten i Barnahus.

Genomförandet av uppdraget har skett i dialog med Polismyndigheten, Åklagarmyndigheten, Socialstyrelsen och Rättsmedicinalverket.

Uppdraget ska slutredovisas senast den 31 mars 2019, vilket görs härmed i denna rapport.

Specific problems with time and timing that affect daily routines, homework, school work, and social relations have been recognized in children with ADHD. The primary treatments for children with ADHD do not specifically focus on time-related difficulties. The aim of this randomized controlled study (RCT) was to investigate how multimodal interventions, consisting of training in time-processing ability (TPA) and compensation with time-assistive devices (TAD), affect TPA and daily time management (DTM) in children with ADHD and time difficulties, compared with only educational intervention. Thirty-eight children on stable medication for ADHD in the 9–15-year age range were randomly allocated to an intervention or a control group. The children’s TPA was measured with a structured assessment (KaTid), and the children’s DTM was rated by a parent questionnaire (Time-Parent scale) and by children’s self-reporting (Time-Self-rating). The intervention consisted of time-skill training and compensation with TAD. Data were analysed for differences in TPA and in DTM between the control and intervention groups in the 24-week follow-up. Children in the intervention group increased their TPA significantly (p = 0.019) more compared to the control group. The largest increase was in orientation to time. In addition, the parents in the intervention group rated their children’s DTM as significantly (p = 0.01) improved compared with the parents in the control group. According to the children, their DTM was not significantly changed. In conclusion, a multimodal intervention consisting of time-skill training and TAD improved TPA and DTM in children with ADHD aged 9–15 years.

Background: Externalising problems are among the most common symptoms of mental health problems in preschool children.

Aims: To investigate the development of externalising problems in preschool children over time, and the way in which conduct problems are linked to hyperactivity problems.

Method: In this longitudinal study, 195 preschool children were included. Latent growth modelling of conduct problems was carried out, with gender and hyperactivity at year 1 as time-invariant predictors.

Results: Hyperactivity was a significant predictor for the intercept and slope of conduct problems. Children with more hyperactivity at year 1 had more conduct problems and a slower reduction in conduct problems. Gender was a significant predictor for the slope of conduct problems.

Conclusions: Children with more initial hyperactivity have less of a reduction in conduct problems over time. It is important to consider the role of hyperactivity in studies of the development of conduct problems.

Declaration of interest: None.

Adherence to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment is important because, when untreated, it may have serious consequences with lifelong effects. In the case of adolescents on long-term medicine prescription, more knowledge is needed regarding adherence and factors influencing adherence, which was the purpose of this study. Adolescents (n = 101) on ADHD medication ≥6 months were administrated questionnaires at a monitoring appointment: Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), beliefs about medicines (BMQ) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Adherence was high, the mean value was 88% of the maximum MARS score, and correlated positively with the “BMQ-necessity-concerns differential” but negatively with “BMQ-concerns” and “BMQ-side effects”. Adolescents with more belief in the necessity of the medication, less concerns and less experience of side effects tended to be more adherent to medication prescription (“intentional non-adherence”), while “unintentional non-adherence” (forgetfulness) was associated with how much they perceived that their ADHD affected their lives. In a multiple regression model, the variance of MARS total (R² = 0.21) and “intentional non-adherence” (R² = 0.24) was explained by the “BMQ-necessity–concern differential” and “BMQ-experienced side effects”. The variance of “unintentional non-adherence” (R² = 0.12) was explained by the “BMQ-necessity–concern differential” and “B-IPQ-consequences of ADHD”. In conclusion, adolescents on long-term medication reported good adherence, mainly influenced by more beliefs in the necessity versus concerns of the medications, less experienced side effects and more perceived consequences of ADHD. BMQ could be useful to identify risks of low adherence, which should be counteracted by partially gender-specific interventions.