ACAMH are delighted to announce that our publication JCPP Advances has been accepted by Scopus. Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database launched by Elsevier in 2004. It covers peer-reviewed literature across various disciplines, indexing over 25,000 titles from more than 5,000 publishers worldwide, providing researchers with a powerful tool for literature discovery and bibliometric analysis. Scopus selection criteria includes – journal policy, content, journal standing, publishing regularity and online availability. Most importantly, the evaluation of content is done by member ..read more

School anxiety EBSA are growing concerns that significantly impact students’ mental health and overall well-being. This blog explores the mental health consequences of these issues. Understanding EBSA EBSA refers to severe difficulty attending school due to emotional factors. It’s estimated to affect 1-5% of school-age children and is more prevalent in secondary schools1. EBSA is not simply truancy or school refusal, it reflects genuine emotional distress that hinders school attendance manifesting in various ways, including: Complete absence from school Periodic absences or missing specific c ..read more

Imposter syndrome is a pertinent issue in academia. The phenomenon was first defined by Clance and Imes (1978) as an experience of feeling inadequate in one’s work or academic setting, and undeserving of rewards, promotions, and recognition. Furthermore, research has shown that university students with high levels of imposterism are more likely to report low self-efficacy, which is defined as a belief one holds about their ability to succeed (Pákozdy et al., 2023). This lack of self-confidence in their own abilities frequently leads to stress and anxiety, therefore these individuals strive to ..read more

Introduction Loneliness is a significant and often overlooked issue among early career researchers (ECRs). Loneliness is defined as a subjective feeling of distress, resulting from perceptions of unfulfilling or inadequate social connection (Matthews et al., 2016). This phenomenon can have profound implications for both personal well-being and professional development. Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of loneliness among academics, particularly those in the early stages of their careers (Moran et al., 2020)(Ellard et al., 2022), suggesting that this issue warrants serious attenti ..read more

Why Your Research Belongs in JCPP Advances In the rapidly evolving field of child and adolescent psychology and psychiatry, the dissemination of high-quality research is crucial for advancing our understanding and improving clinical practices. JCPP Advances, a well respected Open Access journal, provides a platform for researchers to share their work with a global audience. Our team of editors, lead by Professor Henrik Larsson, are well accomplished researchers and academics and bring in expertise from various areas of child and adolescent mental health. They are themselves prolific authors an ..read more

Leading up to our webinar series ‘Intervention and prevention of the sexual abuse of children and young people and those displaying harmful sexual behaviour. Mandatory Reporting – What’s next?’ we take a look some evidence-based approaches. Sexual abuse of children and young people is a pervasive issue with far-reaching consequences, affecting victims’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Equally concerning is the harmful sexual behavior (HSB) exhibited by some young people, which requires targeted interventions to prevent further harm. Effective strategies for intervention and preventi ..read more

Characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics, Tourette Syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affects roughly over 300,000 children and adults in the UK (Anderson et al, 2024). However, the consequences of Tourette Syndrome on the daily lives of children and adolescents have been insufficiently investigated (Atkinson-Clement, 2022). The exact cause of Tourette Syndrome is not fully understood but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (Mayo Clinic, 2024) as well as brain structure and function. Tourette Synd ..read more

We often get asked ‘How’s your day been?’ If you’re living, teaching, or working with an autistic teenager, you’ve probably, at some point said ‘Uplifting’. ‘Hilarious’. ‘Rewarding’. You’ve also most likely said something like; ‘Challenging’. ‘A struggle’. ‘Testing’. Autistic children and teenagers vary considerably in their individual strengths and difficulties (SIGN 2016), with many having co-existing conditions which can make getting the right support more challenging (Maskey 2013). They often grapple with intense emotions like anxiety, stress, depression, and anger. Even minor triggers, ca ..read more

Short summary We know that there is a bidirectional association between sleep duration/quality and depressive symptoms in youth. In adult populations depressive symptoms and circadian rhythms (sleep chronotype) have also been linked. In this paper, we established an association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in middle adolescence, independently of poor sleep and prior mental health difficulties. Background The importance of good quality sleep cannot be underestimated, and the impact of poor sleep (i.e., sub-optimal duration, disruption in the form of night awakenings, and delayed o ..read more

We are delighted to offer our wholehearted support to Luis Rodrigues Rocha who is about to take on the SAS Fan Dance challenge, on 15-16 June, in support of ACAMH. We are honoured an humbled that Luis is raising funds for ACAMH. Here’s how you can help. Simply visit his GoFundMe page and make a donation and offer words of support and encouragement. Luis took time out of his training to speak to ACAMH about his challenge. Hello Luis. What is the SAS Fan Dance and why are you taking part? “It is an intense route is known for its role in UK Special Forces selection, and it’s one of the most amazi ..read more