Prevalence of autism and autistic traits in those who died by suicide

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Shania Lorenz examines a recent mixed-methods study, which suggests that, in England, people with autism or autistic traits have a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

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What’s the link between neurodevelopmental or mental disorders and school absence or exclusion?

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Chris Fielding summarises a Welsh cohort study which finds that neurodevelopmental and mental disorders are linked to school absenteeism and exclusion.

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Critiquing the evidence behind the “evidence-based conclusions” about ADHD

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Shuichi Suetani and Gaj Panagoda explore the World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement published in 2021, which contains “208 evidence-based conclusions about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Tooth grinding in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders

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This review of the prevalence of tooth grinding and/or clenching in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and other developmental anomalies included 77 studies from 2 countries. However a large proportion of the studies were at high risk of bias so the findings need to be interpreted with caution.

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Age at onset of mental disorders: global meta-analysis provides data for targeting effective interventions

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Dona Matthews summarises a comprehensive global meta-analysis that presents our best current knowledge on the age of onset of various mental disorders. This review has major implications for our mental health promotion and prevention efforts.

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ADHD: which medications are most effective and safe?

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In his debut blog, Franco De Crescenzo summarises a narrative review that finds good evidence for the short-term pharmacological treatment of ADHD.

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Neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health research: it’s time to #EmbraceComplexity!

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In her debut blog, Suzi Sapiets summarises a review exploring psychological treatment of depression in young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, which finds very limited evidence to help neurodiverse individuals. She also tells us that it’s time to #EmbraceComplexity and encourages people to join the Embracing Complexity Research Network.

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“Are you neurotypical?” How autistic people compensate to fit in

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Eloise Stark examines a recent qualitative study that looks into compensatory strategies in autism. An online questionnaire asked a wide range of participants to self-report their use and experiences of compensatory strategies. The findings are illuminating.

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Early life deprivation, neurodevelopment, mental health and resilience: ERA study

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André Tomlin summarises the latest instalment of the ERA (English and Romanian Adoptees) study, which explores the neurodevelopmental and mental health trajectories of Romanian orphans who experienced severe levels of early life deprivation.

Today’s blog features a podcast interview with lead author of the ERA study: Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke.

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A new model for schizophrenia?

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Schizophrenia is a complex disorder (or, more likely, group of disorders) that has reality distortion at its core. Efforts to establish the cause of schizophrenia have been ongoing for more than a century, and many models have come and gone in that time (not for nothing has schizophrenia been called ‘the graveyard of neuropathologists’ (Plum, [read the full story…]