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Background: Perinatal depression (PND) is a debilitating condition affecting maternal well‐being and child development. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is important to perinatal neuroplasticity, however its relationship with depression severity and postpartum structural brain volume is unknown. Method: We examined perinatal temporal dynamics and bidirectional associations between ALLO and depression severity and the association between these variables and postpartum gray matter volume, using a random intercept cross‐lagged panel model. Results: We identified a unidirectional predictive relationship between PND severity and ALLO concentration, suggesting greater depression severity early in the perinatal period may contribute to subsequent changes in ALLO concentration (β = 0.26, p = 0.009), while variations in ALLO levels during the perinatal period influences the development and severity of depressive symptoms later in the postpartum period (β = 0.38, p = 0.007). Antepartum depression severity (Visit 2, β = 0.35, p = 0.004), ALLO concentration (Visit 2, β = 0.37, p = 0.001), and postpartum depression severity (Visit 3, β = 0.39, p = 0.031), each predicted the right anterior cingulate volume. Antepartum ALLO concentration (Visit 2, β = 0.29, p = 0.001) predicted left suborbital sulcus volume. Antepartum depression severity (Visit 1, β = 0.39, p = 0.006 and Visit 2, β = 0.48, p < 0.001) predicted the right straight gyrus volume. Postpartum depression severity (Visit 3, β = 0.36, p = 0.001) predicted left middle‐posterior cingulate volume. Conclusion: These results provide the first evidence of bidirectional associations between perinatal ALLO and depression severity with postpartum gray matter volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many studies have identified risk and protective factors of substance use (SU), few have assessed the reciprocal associations of child conduct problems (CP) and parenting practices and behaviors in the prediction of SU across development. A greater understanding of how these factors relate over time is needed to improve the timing of targeted prevention efforts. This study examined how child CP, parenting behaviors, and parents' own antisocial behavior relate from preschool to adolescence and eventuate in SU. Participants included 706 youth (70.6% male; 89.7% white) enrolled in the Michigan Longitudinal Study. Data from waves 1 (ages 3–5), 2 (ages 6–8), 3 (ages 9–11), 4 (ages 12–14), and 5 (ages 15–17) were included. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) examined reciprocal associations between parenting practices, parents' antisocial behavior, and child CP over time (waves 1–4) and how these factors contribute to adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use (wave 5). At the within-person level, negative parenting and parents' own antisocial behavior had a strong influence in late childhood/early adolescence. Only child CP emerged as a significant predictor of SU. Results highlight the importance of early intervention and the potential influence of parenting and child factors throughout development in the prevention of SU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Screen media activity (SMA) can negatively affect youth behavioral health. Sleep may mediate this association but has not been previously explored. We examined whether sleep mediated the association between SMA and youth behavioral health among a community sample. Method: Parents completed questions about their child (N = 564) ages 3–17 at Wave 1, Wave 2 (4–8 months later), and Wave 3 (12 months later). Path analyses were conducted to examine links between Wave 1 SMA and Wave 3 behavioral health problems (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, attention, peer problems) through Wave 2 sleep disturbance and duration. Results: SMA was significantly associated with greater sleep disturbance, β =.11, 95% CI [.01,.21] and shorter sleep duration, β = −.16 [−.25, −.06], and greater sleep disturbance was associated with worse youth behavioral health across internalizing, β =.14 [.04,.24], externalizing, B =.23 [.12,.33], attention, β =.24 [.15,.34], and peer problems, β =.25 [.15,.35]. Longer sleep duration was associated with more externalizing, β =.13 [.04,.21], and attention problems, β =.12 [.02,.22], and fewer peer problems, β = −.09 [−.17, −.01], but not with internalizing problems. Lastly, there was a direct effect of SMA on peer problems, β = −.15 [−.23, −.06] such that higher SMA that does not impact sleep may have a positive impact on reducing peer problems. Conclusions: Sleep (i.e., disturbances and shorter duration) may partially account for the small associations observed between SMA and worse behavioral health in youth. To continue expanding our understanding, future research should utilize more diverse representative samples, use objective measures of SMA and sleep, and examine other relevant aspects of SMA, including content, device type, and timing of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing homelessness in infancy has been linked to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Parental well-being and the parent–infant relationship can also be negatively impacted by experiencing homelessness. While numerous parent-based infant mental health programs have been identified by a recent review, the goal of this study was to further determine the extent to which these existing programs were developed and/or examined with at-risk populations such as families experiencing homelessness. Out of 60 programs identified by Hare et al., 2023, only three had been implemented specifically in shelter settings with infants 0–12 months (Parent-Infant Psychotherapy, New Beginnings, and My Baby's First Teacher). Additionally, when examining programs that began in later infancy (after 12 months), only 2 programs were implemented in shelter settings (Incredible Years and Parent–Child Interaction Therapy). Implications for research, policy, and clinicians regarding implementation of evidence-based prevention/treatment programs for parents and their infants experiencing homelessness are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many prevention and treatment programs exist for children and families, there have been no reviews specifically examining their impact on infant mental health at the program level. Therefore, the purpose of the current review was to a) systematically examine prevention and treatment programs targeting infant mental health outcomes (i.e. internalizing problems, externalizing problems, social-emotional development, trauma) or the parent-infant relationship/attachment in children from pregnancy to 2 years; b) classify each program by level of empirical support; and c) highlight strengths and identify gaps in the existing literature to inform future mental health intervention science. From over 121,341 publications initially identified, 60 prevention and treatment programs met inclusion criteria for this review. Each program was reviewed for level of scientific evidence. Of the 60 programs reviewed, 29 (48.33%) were classified as promising, while only six (10.0%) were classified as effective. Lastly, only two programs (3.33%; Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up and Video-feedback Intervention Parenting Program) were classified as evidence-based specific to infant mental health and/or parent-infant relationship/attachment outcomes. Implications related to disseminating evidence-based prevention/treatment programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early‐onset (3–8 years old) disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) have been linked to a range of psychosocial sequelae in adolescence and beyond, including delinquency, depression, and substance use. Given that low‐income families are overrepresented in statistics on early‐onset DBDs, prevention and early‐intervention targeting this population is a public health imperative. The efficacy of Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) programs such as Helping the Noncompliant Child (HNC) has been called robust; however, given the additional societal and structural barriers faced by low‐income families, family engagement and retention barriers can cause effects to wane with time. This study extends preliminary work by examining the potential for a Technology‐Enhanced HNC (TE‐HNC) program to improve and sustain parent skill proficiency and child outcomes among low‐income families. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms was the design for this study. A total of 101 children (3–8‐years‐old) with clinically significant problem behaviors from low‐income households were randomized to HNC (n = 54) or TE‐HNC (n = 47). Participants were assessed at pre‐treatment, post‐treatment, 3‐month, and 6‐month follow‐ups. Primary outcomes were parent‐reported and observed child behavior problems. Secondary outcomes included observed parenting skills use (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02191956). Results: Primary analyses used latent curve modeling to examine treatment differences in the trajectory of change during treatment, maintenance of treatment gains, and levels of outcomes at the 6‐month follow‐up. Both programs yielded improvements in parenting skills and child problems at post‐treatment. However, TE‐HNC families evidenced greater maintenance of parent‐reported and observed child behavior and observed positive parenting skills at the 6‐month follow‐up. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to an ongoing line of work suggesting that technology‐enhanced treatment models hold promise for increasing markers of engagement in BPT and sustaining long‐term outcomes among low‐income families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined associations between temperament (negative affect, effortful control, and surgency) and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) within a diverse preschool sample. Interactions between temperament and parenting in the prediction of ADHD/ODD symptoms before and after an 8-week early intervention program (i.e., Summer Treatment Program for Pre-kindergartners; STP-PreK) were also examined. Method: The sample included 215 children (Mage = 5.0, 80.9% male, 84.7% Latinx) with a diagnosis of ADHD and/or ODD who completed the STP-PreK. Temperament was measured via parent report while ADHD/ODD symptoms were assessed via combination of parent and teacher report. Positive and negative parenting were assessed via rating scales and a standardized parent-child interaction observation. Results: Higher surgency was associated with greater symptom severity of ADHD/ODD pre- and post-treatment. Higher negative affect was associated with greater symptom severity of ODD pre- and post-treatment, while higher effortful control was only associated with lower symptom severity of inattention pre-treatment. Positive parenting predicted lower symptom severity of ADHD/ODD post-treatment. Moderation analyses indicated that the benefits of low levels of negative parenting only occurred when paired with low temperament risk for symptoms of hyperactivity and ODD. Additionally, only the combination of high surgency and high observed negative parenting resulted in greater symptom severity of ODD. Finally, decreases in inconsistent discipline predicted decreases across all symptom domains post-treatment. Conclusions: Our findings add to the temperament-based model of ADHD/ODD by highlighting temperament's unique prediction of treatment response as well as important interactions with the caregiving environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peripartum depression (PND) impairs mother-infant boding and perceived social support, yet limited research has examined if women at-risk for PND (AR-PND) also experience impairment. We examined if pregnant women AR-PND, women with PND, and healthy comparison women (HCW) differed in their mother-infant bonding and social support. As PND is highly comorbid with anxiety, we also examined if peripartum anxiety impacted postpartum diagnosis of PND. Methods: A total of 144 pregnant women AR-PND or euthymic were assessed twice antepartum and twice postpartum. We utilized regression models to examine the impact of PND risk group status and diagnostic status on mother-infant bonding and perceived social support postpartum. We conducted a sensitivity analysis using a generalized estimating equations model to determine if anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAM-A) across all four time points was associated with the postpartum diagnosis of PND. Results: Women AR-PND experienced significantly worse mother-infant bonding compared to HCW (p = .03). Women diagnosed with PND experienced significantly worse mother-infant bonding and social support compared to HCW (p = .001, p = .002, respectively) and to those who were at-risk for but did not develop PND (p = .02, p = .008, respectively). HAM-A severity at each visit was associated with PND diagnosis status, where each increase in HAM-A was associated with 15% increased odds of being diagnosed with PND postpartum. Conclusions: Both women AR-PND and those with PND experience worse mother-infant bonding. Peripartum anxiety should also be assessed as it represents a marker for later PND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interdisciplinary field of developmental psychopathology has made great strides by including context into theoretical and empirical approaches to studying risk and resilience. Perhaps no context is more important to the developing child than their relationships with their caregivers (typically a child's parents), as caregivers are a key source of stimulation and nurturance to young children. Coupled with the high degree of brain plasticity in the earliest years of life, these caregiving relationships have an immense influence on shaping behavioral outcomes relevant to developmental psychopathology. In this article, we discuss three areas within caregiving relationships: (1) caregiver-child interactions in everyday, naturalistic settings; (2) caregivers' social cognitions about their child; and (3) caregivers' broader social and cultural context. For each area, we provide an overview of its significance to the field, identify existing knowledge gaps, and offer potential approaches for bridging these gaps to foster growth in the field. Lastly, given that one value of a scientific discipline is its ability to produce research useful in guiding real-world decisions related to policy and practice, we encourage developmental psychopathology to consider that a focus on caregiving, a modifiable target, supports this mission.