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ABSTRACTRelatively poor treatment outcomes have been reported for children with conduct problems (CPs) and high levels of callous-unemotional (CU) traits (e.g., a lack of guilt, a lack of empathy, shallow affect), yet the mechanisms underlying this effect are poorly understood. Recently, growing evidence of aberrant reward/punishment processing in children with CU traits has suggested that punishment-based parenting strategies may be less effective among children with high levels of CU traits. Using a randomized controlled trial design, we conducted an experimental test of whether CU traits are associated with differential response to reward versus punishment components of evidence-based parent-training interventions for CPs. Parents of children (n = 74) 3 to 8 years of age were randomized to either 5 weeks of reward-based or 5 weeks of punishment-based parenting strategies, after which time each received the alternative intervention. Contrary to predictions, neither type nor dosage of parent training strategies was found to moderate the relation between CU traits and treatment response. Implications for the treatment of CPs in children with high levels of CU traits, and research into mechanisms of behavior change, are discussed.

Across all of Australia’s states and territories, it is legal for a parent or carer to hit their child. In this paper, we outline the legal context for corporal punishment in Australia and the argument for its reform.

ABSTRACTThis nonrandomized trial aimed to demonstrate how an established evidence-based parenting intervention could be implemented in a telemental health environment. The study aimed to explore how socially acceptable the newly designed platform was and to explore parent satisfaction, engagement patterns, and process outcomes. The design was a 2 (group: clinic-based vs. e-health parenting intervention) × 3 (time: pre, post, and 3-month follow-up) repeated measures trial comparing families who received treatment online (N= 22) to a matched sample that received clinic-based treatment (N= 25). Participants were 47 families with a child between 3 and 12 years of age with a primary diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. Parents in both groups indicated they were satisfied with treatment, with parents in the e-health group indicating the website was interesting, easy to use, efficient, and innovative. Parents agreed that they were engaged with therapy sessions regardless of the medium; however, clinicians indicated that clinic-based parents were more engaged. Parents’ ratings of the therapeutic alliance were equivalent between the two groups, whereas clinicians’ ratings were significantly higher for the e-health group. Overall clinicians indicated feeling more empowered and having higher self-efficacy to treat clinic-based families.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a telemental health behavioral parent training (BPT) program for children with conduct problems that combined video modules with individualized consultations with a psychologist via videoconference. The study also aimed to highlight the clinical implications of delivering BPT via this new modality. The design was a 2 (group: clinic-based vs. e-health parenting intervention) × 3 (time: pre, post, and 3-month follow-up) repeated measures nonrandomized trial comparing families who received treatment online (N= 22) to a matched sample that received clinic-based treatment (N= 25). Participants were 47 families with a child between 3 and 12 years old with a primary diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. At posttreatment, children whose parent(s) had received either intervention showed a significant reduction in oppositional behaviors and ADHD symptoms. Parents in both groups agreed they were confident in dealing with current and future behavior problems and reported a significant increase in parenting knowledge and less use of corporal punishment and inconsistent discipline. Effects were maintained at 3 months. The results suggest that similar to clinic-based BPT, the telemental health BPT program is effective in reducing problematic child behaviors and improving parenting practices and knowledge.

Using a systematic search strategy in which intellectual giftedness was operationalized in terms of IQ score, the authors examined evidence from studies reporting on associations between this aspect of giftedness and psychopathology. A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria: compared gifted (IQ ≥ 125) and nongifted (IQ = 90–110) peers or used IQ as a continuous variable (IQ = 90–125+) and used empirically validated psychopathology measures. Overall, results indicated that gifted children demonstrate superior socio-emotional adjustment and fewer behavioral difficulties than their typically developing peers. Issues that may bias the findings in this direction are highlighted, including the tendency to select participants from gifted programs. Some socio-emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with giftedness were found when dimensions such as levels of giftedness and ethnicity were considered. Recommendations for future research include the use of adequate sample size, longitudinal studies, individually administered cognitive abilities tests, and specific age-appropriate psychopathology measures; and testing interaction effects between variables, such as age, ethnicity, and gender.

The involvement of arginine–vasopressin (AVP) in animal and human aggression has been well established in the literature. Recent research has shown an association between the minor allele (C) of single-nucleotide polymorphism rs35369693located on the AVP 1B receptor gene and childhood aggression.

Phenotypic features of borderline personality disorder may first emerge during childhood, alongside symptoms of common externalizing and internalizing disorders. Children with these borderline personality features (BPF) are, therefore, likely to come into contact with clinical services prior to adolescence. This raises the question of whether BPF may be clinically informative with respect to the formulation and treatment of childhood psychopathology.

The co-occurrence of conduct problems (CPs) and high callous–unemotional (CU) traits specifies risk for adult psychopathy and is under a high genetic influence. A previous genome-wide pooled DNA study of 7-year olds identified a set of candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that might differentiate high CPCU children from healthy children. We attempted to replicate an identified subset of these SNP–psychopathy associations. In a case–control design, 210 clinically referred children were partitioned into Comparison, High CPLow CU, and High CPCU groups and genotyped. One SNP, rs13064369, differentiated the groups but was associated with high CP, regardless of the level of CU traits, that is, the rare and heterozygote variants CC and CT were significantly more frequent in both CP groups compared with Comparisons but did not differ from each other. We replicated the finding that a polymorphism associated with the ROBO2gene, which is involved in neurodevelopment, confers risk for the common emotionally reactive, impulsive aspects of conduct disorder, independent of concurrent risk for psychopathy.

The aim of this study was to examine associations between ostracism, internalising problems, and threat to primary needs (belonging, control, self-esteem, meaningful existence) in children (N = 165, M age = 9 years). Ostracism was simulated experimentally using the Cyberball paradigm—a computer-based ball-throwing game—and threats to primary needs were indexed using a modified version of the primary needs questionnaire (PNQ-C; Hawes et al., 2012). Overall, children with greater internalising problems reported greater need-threat following Cyberball. Importantly however, in the domain of ‘belonging’, the relationship between internalising problems and need-threat was moderated by inclusionary status. Specifically, children with high levels of internalising problems exhibited greater need-threat than children low in internalising problems when included by peers; yet following ostracism, children with high internalising problems were no longer distinguishable from those with low internalising problems in terms of threat to belonging.

Ostracism, the act of being excluded or ignored by another individual or group (Williams, 1997; Williams et al., 2002), is a powerful, pervasive, and complex phenomenon that transcends time and affects individuals throughout their lifespan, with some of the most damaging exclusionary experiences occurring during childhood (Williams, Forgas, & von Hippel, 2005). The current paper: a) discusses some of the problems associated with empirically investigating ostracism with a child sample using the widely used and well-validated ostracism paradigm, Cyberball (Williams, Cheung, & Choi, 2000); b) outlines methodological guidelines designed to improve the effectiveness of using Cyberball to investigate the effects of ostracism in children; and c) discusses a post-Cyberball assessment of primary need-threat that is appropriate for use with a child sample (Primary Needs Questionnaire-Child—PNQ-C; Hawes et al., 2012).

The aim of this study was to examine associations between ostracism, internalising problems, and threat to primary needs (belonging, control, self-esteem, meaningful existence) in children (N = 165, M age = 9 years). Ostracism was simulated experimentally using the Cyberball paradigm—a computer-based ball-throwing game—and threats to primary needs were indexed using a modified version of the primary needs questionnaire (PNQ-C; Hawes et al., 2012). Overall, children with greater internalising problems reported greater need-threat following Cyberball. Importantly however, in the domain of ‘belonging’, the relationship between internalising problems and need-threat was moderated by inclusionary status. Specifically, children with high levels of internalising problems exhibited greater need-threat than children low in internalising problems when included by peers; yet following ostracism, children with high internalising problems were no longer distinguishable from those with low internalising problems in terms of threat to belonging.

Ostracism, the act of being excluded or ignored by another individual or group (Williams, 1997; Williams et al., 2002), is a powerful, pervasive, and complex phenomenon that transcends time and affects individuals throughout their lifespan, with some of the most damaging exclusionary experiences occurring during childhood (Williams, Forgas, & von Hippel, 2005). The current paper: a) discusses some of the problems associated with empirically investigating ostracism with a child sample using the widely used and well-validated ostracism paradigm, Cyberball (Williams, Cheung, & Choi, 2000); b) outlines methodological guidelines designed to improve the effectiveness of using Cyberball to investigate the effects of ostracism in children; and c) discusses a post-Cyberball assessment of primary need-threat that is appropriate for use with a child sample (Primary Needs Questionnaire-Child—PNQ-C; Hawes et al., 2012).

Two decades of research has implicated the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in the development of antisocial behavior in children. However, findings regarding the association between cortisol and antisocial behavior have been largely inconsistent, and the role of the HPA axis in relation to broader etiological processes remains unclear. We examine evidence that the role of the HPA axis in the development of antisocial behavior may differ across subgroups of children.