2024
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following exposure to acute psychological trauma in children aged 8–16 years in South Africa: protocol for the Sinethemba longitudinal study
Sharp T, Chideya Y, Giuliani A, Hunt X, Tomlinson M, Seedat S, Creswell C, Fearon P, Hamilton-Giachritsis C, Hiller R, Meiser-Stedman R, Du Toit S, Stewart J, Halligan S. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following exposure to acute psychological trauma in children aged 8–16 years in South Africa: protocol for the Sinethemba longitudinal study. BMJ Open 2024, 14: e085129. PMID: 38991675, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085129.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMental health outcomesPost-traumatic stress disorderChildren aged 8Caregiver supportHealth outcomesAssociation of psychosocial factorsAdverse mental health outcomesAged 8Traumatic eventsChildren’s post-traumatic stress disorderDepartment of HealthMiddle-income countriesTrauma-related mental healthPsychological risk factorsHigh-income countriesStress disorder symptomsFollow-up assessmentPost-traumatic stress disorder symptomsCape TownMotor vehicle accidentsHealthcare clinicsPsychosocial factorsMental healthPsychological recoveryEthical approval
2020
Evidence for Better Lives Study: a comparative birth-cohort study on child exposure to violence and other adversities in eight low- and middle-income countries - foundational research (study protocol)
Valdebenito S, Murray A, Hughes C, Băban A, Fernando A, Madrid B, Ward C, Osafo J, Dunne M, Sikander S, Walker S, Van Thang V, Tomlinson M, Fearon P, Shenderovich Y, Marlow M, Chathurika D, Taut D, Eisner M. Evidence for Better Lives Study: a comparative birth-cohort study on child exposure to violence and other adversities in eight low- and middle-income countries - foundational research (study protocol). BMJ Open 2020, 10: e034986. PMID: 33039982, PMCID: PMC7552842, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034986.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBiological stress markersPregnant womenStress markersDry blood spot samplesPrenatal intimate partner violenceBirth cohort studyPredictors of exposureBlood spot samplesAdverse childhood experiencesHigh-quality longitudinal dataLast trimesterLater healthEpidemiological estimatesEthical approvalHealth servicesEffective interventionsRecruiting sitesPhysical healthChildren's exposureSubstance useParticipant recruitmentPrenatal stageIntimate partner violenceSpot samplesLongitudinal studyPTSD symptoms and cortisol stress reactivity in adolescence: Findings from a high adversity cohort in South Africa
Zimmerman A, Halligan S, Skeen S, Morgan B, Fraser A, Fearon P, Tomlinson M. PTSD symptoms and cortisol stress reactivity in adolescence: Findings from a high adversity cohort in South Africa. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020, 121: 104846. PMID: 32919210, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104846.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderCortisol stress reactivityTrier Social Stress TestPTSD symptomsTrauma exposureStress reactivityHPA axis stress reactivitySmall inverse associationHPA stress reactivitySex-specific associationsTotal cortisol outputElevated PTSD symptomsImpoverished South African communityMiddle-income countriesAdrenal axisInverse associationSocial Stress TestMiddle-income country contextCortisol responsePsychosocial stressCortisol outputCortisol increaseSalivary cortisolStress disorderSouth African community
2017
Serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphism and susceptibility to a home-visiting maternal-infant attachment intervention delivered by community health workers in South Africa: Reanalysis of a randomized controlled trial
Morgan B, Kumsta R, Fearon P, Moser D, Skeen S, Cooper P, Murray L, Moran G, Tomlinson M. Serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphism and susceptibility to a home-visiting maternal-infant attachment intervention delivered by community health workers in South Africa: Reanalysis of a randomized controlled trial. PLOS Medicine 2017, 14: e1002237. PMID: 28245280, PMCID: PMC5330451, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002237.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity health workersMaternal-infant attachmentIntervention groupMother-infant dyadsHealth workersPsychosocial interventionsControl groupSerotonin transporter geneSerotonin transporter polymorphismAge 18 moShort alleleCurrent Controlled TrialsTransporter polymorphismHome visit programLong alleleControl group individualsEffect sizePrimary outcomeControlled TrialsThird trimesterAbsolute riskPregnant womenTransporter gene polymorphismMo postpartumAllele carriers