Indicated prevention interventions for anxiety in children and adolescents: a review and meta-analysis of school-based programs

Anxiety disorders are among the most common youth mental health disorders. Early intervention can reduce elevated anxiety symptoms. School-based interventions exist but it is unclear how effective targeted approaches are for reducing symptoms of anxiety. This review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of school-based indicated interventions for symptomatic children and adolescents. The study was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42018087628]. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library for randomised-controlled trials comparing indicated programs for child and adolescent (5–18 years) anxiety to active or inactive control groups. Data were extracted from papers up to December 2019. The primary outcome was efficacy (mean change in anxiety symptom scores). Sub-group and sensitivity analyses explored intervention intensity and control type. We identified 20 studies with 2076 participants. Eighteen studies were suitable for meta-analysis. A small positive effect was found for indicated programs compared to controls on self-reported anxiety symptoms at post-test (g = − 0.28, CI = − 0.50, − 0.05, k = 18). This benefit was maintained at 6 (g = − 0.35, CI = − 0.58, − 0.13, k = 9) and 12 months (g = − 0.24, CI = − 0.48, 0.00, k = 4). Based on two studies, > 12 month effects were very small (g = − 0.01, CI = − 0.38, 0.36). No differences were found based on intervention intensity or control type. Risk of bias and variability between studies was high (I2 = 78%). Findings show that school-based indicated programs for child and adolescent anxiety can produce small beneficial effects, enduring for up to 12 months. Future studies should include long-term diagnostic assessments

The CogBIAS longitudinal study protocol: cognitive and genetic factors influencing psychological functioning in adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Optimal psychological development is dependent upon a complex interplay between individual and situational factors. Investigating the development of these factors in adolescence will help to improve understanding of emotional vulnerability and resilience. The CogBIAS longitudinal study (CogBIAS-L-S) aims to combine cognitive and genetic approaches to investigate risk and protective factors associated with the development of mood and impulsivity-related outcomes in an adolescent sample. METHODS: CogBIAS-L-S is a three-wave longitudinal study of typically developing adolescents conducted over 4 years, with data collection at age 12, 14 and 16. At each wave participants will undergo multiple assessments including a range of selective cognitive processing tasks (e.g. attention bias, interpretation bias, memory bias) and psychological self-report measures (e.g. anxiety, depression, resilience). Saliva samples will also be collected at the baseline assessment for genetic analyses. Multilevel statistical analyses will be performed to investigate the developmental trajectory of cognitive biases on psychological functioning, as well as the influence of genetic moderation on these relationships. DISCUSSION: CogBIAS-L-S represents the first longitudinal study to assess multiple cognitive biases across adolescent development and the largest study of its kind to collect genetic data. It therefore provides a unique opportunity to understand how genes and the environment influence the development and maintenance of cognitive biases and provide insight into risk and protective factors that may be key targets for intervention.This work was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013)/ERC grant agreement no: [324176]

Novel multi-stage aluminium production: part 1 � thermodynamic assessment of carbosulphidation of Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>/bauxite using H<inf>2</inf>S and sodiothermic reduction of Al<inf>2</inf>S<inf>3</inf>

© 2017 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and The AusIMM Published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Institute and The AusIMMA novel multi-stage Al production through a carbosulphidation of Al2O3, followed by a sodiothermic reduction of Al2S3, was proposed. In Stage-1, alumina (or bauxite) is reduced to Al2S3 in the presence of carbon and H2S. In Stage-2, Al2S3 is reduced to Al through reactions with Na or NaH. The thermodynamic analysis predicted Al2S3 to be the main intermediate Al-compound when H2S is reacted with Al2S3 and C at 1000-2000°C at 1 atm. Al2S3 formation was predicted to be low at 1100-1300°C at 1 atm (0.1 moles/mole Al2O3) but increased with increasing temperature (0.96 moles/mole Al2O3 at 1800°C). The thermodynamic analysis of sodiothermic reduction predicted that Al metal can be extracted from Al2S3 below 800°C at 1 atm. The Na2S produced can be hydrolysed to form H2S and NaOH. H2S can be re-used and the Na can be reproduced from NaOH and put back into the process

Measuring discrimination experienced by people with a mental illness: Replication of the short-form DISCUS in six world regions

Background The Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC) is a patient-reported outcome measure which assesses experiences of discrimination among persons with a mental illness globally. Methods This study evaluated whether the psychometric properties of a short-form version, DISC-Ultra Short (DISCUS) (11-item), could be replicated in a sample of people with a wide range of mental disorders from 21 sites in 15 countries/territories, across six global regions. The frequency of experienced discrimination was reported. Scaling assumptions (confirmatory factor analysis, inter-item and item-total correlations), reliability (internal consistency) and validity (convergent validity, known groups method) were investigated in each region, and by diagnosis group. Results 1195 people participated. The most frequently reported experiences of discrimination were being shunned or avoided at work (48.7%) and discrimination in making or keeping friends (47.2%). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional model across all six regions and five diagnosis groups. Convergent validity was confirmed in the total sample and within all regions [ Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-10): 0.28-0.67, stopping self: 0.54-0.72, stigma consciousness: -0.32-0.57], as was internal consistency reliability (α = 0.74-0.84). Known groups validity was established in the global sample with levels of experienced discrimination significantly higher for those experiencing higher depression [Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2: p &lt; 0.001], lower mental wellbeing [Warwick-Edinburgh Well-being Scale (WEMWBS): p &lt; 0.001], higher suicidal ideation [Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)-4: p &lt; 0.001] and higher risk of suicidal behaviour [Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS): p &lt; 0.001]. Conclusions The DISCUS is a reliable and valid unidimensional measure of experienced discrimination for use in global settings with similar properties to the longer DISC. It offers a brief assessment of experienced discrimination for use in clinical and research settings

Beyond Anthropological Expert Witnessing: Toward an Integrated Definition of Cultural Expertise

International audienceThis paper explores expert witnessing in anthropology and the raison d'être of cultural expertise as an integrated socio-legal concept that accounts for the contribution of social sciences to the resolution of disputes and the protection of human rights. The first section of this paper provides a short historical outline of the occurrence and reception of anthropological expertise as expert witnessing. The second section surveys the theoretical reflections on anthropologists' engagement with law. The third section explores the potential for anthropological expertise as a broader socio-legal notion in the common law and civil law legal systems. The paper concludes with the opportunity and raison d'être of cultural expertise grounded on a sceptical approach to culture. It suggests that expert witnessing has been viewed mainly from a technical perspective of applied social sciences, which was necessary to set the legal framework of cultural experts' engagement with law, but had the consequence of entrenching the impossibility of a comprehensive study of anthropological expert witnessing. While this paper implies a sceptical approach to culture, it also argues the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach that leads to an integrated definition of cultural expertise