PCHEXPAAND Prospective Study to Comprehensively Assess Psycho-social Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents with Deliberate-self-harm
Tracks
Virtual Presentations
| Wednesday, December 1, 2021 |
| 3:52 PM - 4:12 PM |
Overview
Dr Yulia Furlong & Zamia Pedro, Cahs. Pch
Speaker
Dr Yulia Furlong
Head Of Service Paediatric Consultation Liaison Programme And Gender Diversity Service N
Cahs. Pch
PCHEXPAAND Prospective Study to Comprehensively Assess Psycho-social Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents with Deliberate-self-harm
Abstract
Rates of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in children and adolescents (C&A) have increased in prevalence, severity and chronicity, and this problem is now considered a major public health issue that is associated with high personal and societal costs, as well as high service burden. While DSH has been increasingly studied across lifespan, particularly high rates of DSH in C&A are poorly understood. These knowledge gaps call for an opportunity to gain better understanding of the contributing psychosocial factors and psychopathology responsible for vicious cycle of DSH and to develop better and more efficacious evidence based treatments. This project investigates specific developmental, social and family factors, as well as particular aspects of emotional functioning and attention spectrum disorders, each of which has been identified as elevating the risk of DSH. More specifically, Dissociative Disorder (DD), Alexithymia, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Attentional Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT), are all identifiable and treatable conditions, and can elevate the risk of DSH by different causal pathways.
PCH EXPAAND project is delivered in three parts. In the first part, psycho-social history and the rates of above mentioned psychiatric and attention deficit conditions and syndromes are being assessed in children and adolescents at Perth Children’s Hospital Emergency Department across a 12-month period (currently in it's 8th month of recruitment). Secondly we are exploring the relationship between these identified conditions and precipitating psycho-social factors and DSH behaviour. The final part of the project will evaluate the effectiveness of a brief nested randomised control trial intervention on clinical presentation, service utilization and engagement in treatment. As part of collaborative research team, we also have secured federal funding for a 3-year project that examines ways to improve the experience that children and young people have when presenting to emergency departments across WA with acute mental health crisis with the aim of reducing the rate of youth suicide.
PCH EXPAAND project is delivered in three parts. In the first part, psycho-social history and the rates of above mentioned psychiatric and attention deficit conditions and syndromes are being assessed in children and adolescents at Perth Children’s Hospital Emergency Department across a 12-month period (currently in it's 8th month of recruitment). Secondly we are exploring the relationship between these identified conditions and precipitating psycho-social factors and DSH behaviour. The final part of the project will evaluate the effectiveness of a brief nested randomised control trial intervention on clinical presentation, service utilization and engagement in treatment. As part of collaborative research team, we also have secured federal funding for a 3-year project that examines ways to improve the experience that children and young people have when presenting to emergency departments across WA with acute mental health crisis with the aim of reducing the rate of youth suicide.
Biography
Dr Yulia Furlong is a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at Perth Children’s Hospital, Head of Service of Paediatric Consultation Liaison and Gender Diversity Service, Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Western Australia, Chair of WA Psychotropic Medication Group, Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) and Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Dr Furlong’s Research Doctorate MD degree in Psychiatry MD from University College Cork, Ireland was in the area of Hospital Liaison Psychiatry. Dr Furlong is an active researcher with multiple publications, including authorship in the prestigious Oxford Textbook of Neuropsychiatry.
Zamia Pedro
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
PCHEXPAAND Prospective Study to Comprehensively Assess Psycho-social Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents with Deliberate-self-harm
Biography
ZAMIA PEDRO, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Zamia Pedro (BA Hons, MPsych (Clincial) University of Western Australia, Clinical Psychologist (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; Registered Psychologist: General Registration. Endorsement: Area of Practice Clinical Psychology). Has a15-year clinical career working with the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service, Western Australia. In 2019 she transitioned to a clinical research role, co-developing and managing a clinical research project, PCH EXPAAND (Exploring Psychiatric And Attentional comorbidities in children and Adolescents Needing intervention for Deliberate self-harm), ANCTR number 381383). Ms Pedro is the Principle Investigator at Perth Children’s Hospital for the project, which aims to identify attentional and psychiatric comorbidities in young people who present to the Perth Children’s Hospital Emergency Department with Deliberate Self Harm Behaviour and Suicidal crisis, including a randomised controlled trial (RCT) component investigating the efficacy of a brief nested psychotherapeutic intervention shown to improve adherence to subsequent mental health treatment for young people who present with this type for difficulty. Ms Pedro is an Honorary Research Fellow for the Telethon Kids Institute (2020-2023), partnered with the PCH EXPAAND Project. She is also a Professional Practice Fellow with the School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (2021-2024).
