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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentCaregiversChildFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePsychological TraumaResearch DesignSouth AfricaStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticConceptsMental 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
2022
Developmental pathways from toddler difficult temperament to child generalized psychopathology and adult functioning
Wu T, Meehan A, Rijlaarsdam J, Maughan B, Fearon P, Barker E. Developmental pathways from toddler difficult temperament to child generalized psychopathology and adult functioning. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2022, 301: 14-22. PMID: 34990631, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMothersParentingPersonality DisordersTemperamentYoung AdultConceptsEarly difficult temperamentLate childhood/early adolescenceChildhood/early adolescenceDifficult temperamentMental health symptomsPositive parentingEarly adolescenceChild mental health symptomsDepressive symptomsLater mental health difficultiesRisk community sampleLow-risk community sampleChild mental health problemsImpaired psychosocial functioningMother-child dyadsMental health difficultiesOwn depressive symptomsChild difficult temperamentMental health problemsNegative parentingChildhood/adolescenceGeneral psychopathology factorGeneralized psychopathologyPsychosocial functioningAdult functioning
2021
Developmental trajectories of autistic social traits in the general population
Pender R, Fearon P, St Pourcain B, Heron J, Mandy W. Developmental trajectories of autistic social traits in the general population. Psychological Medicine 2021, 53: 814-822. PMID: 34154678, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721002166.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAffectAnxietyAutism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderChildFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleConceptsAutism spectrum disorderGrowth mixture modellingAutistic traitsSocial difficultiesCommunication Disorders ChecklistTrajectory groupsMajority-male groupsSCDC scoresAutistic peopleASD diagnosisSpectrum disorderDevelopmental trajectoriesCommunication traitsExternalising difficultiesAvon Longitudinal StudyTrait continuumGeneral population sampleAge 7Social traitsMental healthLongitudinal studyAdolescenceExternal validityPersistent lowYoung peopleAn expanding manifold in transmodal regions characterizes adolescent reconfiguration of structural connectome organization
Park B, Bethlehem R, Paquola C, Larivière S, Rodríguez-Cruces R, de Wael R, Bullmore E, Dolan R, Goodyer I, Fonagy P, Jones P, Moutoussis M, Hauser T, Neufeld S, Romero-Garcia R, St Clair M, Vértes P, Whitaker K, Inkster B, Prabhu G, Ooi C, Toseeb U, Widmer B, Bhatti J, Villis L, Alrumaithi A, Birt S, Bowler A, Cleridou K, Dadabhoy H, Davies E, Firkins A, Granville S, Harding E, Hopkins A, Isaacs D, King J, Kokorikou D, Maurice C, McIntosh C, Memarzia J, Mills H, O’Donnell C, Pantaleone S, Scott J, Kiddle B, Polek E, Fearon P, Suckling J, van Harmelen A, Kievit R, Chamberlain S, Bullmore E, Bernhardt B. An expanding manifold in transmodal regions characterizes adolescent reconfiguration of structural connectome organization. ELife 2021, 10: e64694. PMID: 33787489, PMCID: PMC8087442, DOI: 10.7554/elife.64694.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdolescent BehaviorAdolescent DevelopmentAdultAge FactorsBrainCognitionConnectomeFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalHumansLongitudinal StudiesMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleModels, NeurologicalNerve Tissue ProteinsNeural PathwaysNeurogenesisTranscriptomeYoung AdultConceptsTransmodal regionsHigher-order association networksStructural connectome organizationMeasures of intelligenceLarge longitudinal sampleAdolescent developmentCognitive outcomesConnectome developmentBrain networksLongitudinal sampleStatistical learningConnectome organizationYoung adulthoodModule connectivityConnectivity patternsStructural connectomeEmpirical gapMaturational changesAdolescence
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 studyChildhood socio‐economic disadvantage predicts reduced myelin growth across adolescence and young adulthood
Ziegler G, Moutoussis M, Hauser T, Fearon P, Bullmore E, Goodyer I, Fonagy P, Jones P, Lindenberger U, Dolan R. Childhood socio‐economic disadvantage predicts reduced myelin growth across adolescence and young adulthood. Human Brain Mapping 2020, 41: 3392-3402. PMID: 32432383, PMCID: PMC7375075, DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocio-economic disadvantageMyelin growthEarly socioeconomic disadvantageYoung adulthoodBody mass indexChildhood socio-economic disadvantageLife stressorsYears of ageEarly life stressorsPotential translational implicationsEarly life disadvantageWhite matter regionsParental educationMass indexSubcortical nucleiBrain developmentAlcohol useMatter regionsTranslational implicationsSocioeconomic disadvantageAge 12Life disadvantagePositive parentingProtective mannerNormal trajectoryEditorial Perspective: Stop describing and start fixing – the promise of longitudinal intervention cohorts
Tomlinson M, Fearon P, Christodoulou J, Rotheram‐Borus M. Editorial Perspective: Stop describing and start fixing – the promise of longitudinal intervention cohorts. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2020, 61: 1388-1390. PMID: 32077089, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13213.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
A Longitudinal Examination of Heart-Rate and Heart Rate Variability as Risk Markers for Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in an Acute Injury Sample
Haag K, Hiller R, Peyk P, Michael T, Meiser-Stedman R, Fearon P, Ehlers A, Halligan S. A Longitudinal Examination of Heart-Rate and Heart Rate Variability as Risk Markers for Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in an Acute Injury Sample. Research On Child And Adolescent Psychopathology 2019, 47: 1811-1820. PMID: 31073881, PMCID: PMC6805807, DOI: 10.1007/s10802-019-00553-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress symptomsPosttraumatic stress disorderStress symptomsChildren's post-traumatic stress symptomsAdolescent posttraumatic stress disorderChildren's posttraumatic stress symptomsHigher post-traumatic stress symptomsPosttraumatic stress symptomsLong-term distressConcurrent markersTraumatic eventsTrauma narrativesStress disorderParent-child pairsTraumatic experiencesLongitudinal examinationInjury samplePredictive validityAdult literatureHR variabilityPost traumaChildrenHR indexHeart rate variabilityHospital emergency department
2018
Networks of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Across Development
McElroy E, Fearon P, Belsky J, Fonagy P, Patalay P. Networks of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Across Development. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2018, 57: 964-973. PMID: 30522742, PMCID: PMC6290121, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.05.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAge FactorsAnxietyChildChild DevelopmentChild, PreschoolDepressionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleModels, StatisticalProspective StudiesConceptsAnxiety symptomsEarly childhoodSymptom-symptom associationsBidirectional longitudinal associationsSpecific symptomsChild healthHuman Development StudySymptomsMaternal reportsLongitudinal associationsNetwork of depressionTime pointsStrong associationDepressionAge 5National InstituteCentral symptomsNonparametric permutation testsLongitudinal investigationDiagnostic boundariesSymptom structureEarly Child CareAssociationPresent studyChildhoodPersonality dimensions emerging during adolescence and young adulthood are underpinned by a single latent trait indexing impairment in social functioning
Polek E, Jones PB, Fearon P, Brodbeck J, Moutoussis M, NSPN Consortium, Dolan R, Fonagy P, Bullmore ET, Goodyer IM. Personality dimensions emerging during adolescence and young adulthood are underpinned by a single latent trait indexing impairment in social functioning. BMC Psychiatry 2018, 18: 23. PMID: 29373967, PMCID: PMC5787243, DOI: 10.1186/s12888-018-1595-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsLongitudinal StudiesMaleModels, PsychologicalPersonalityPersonality DisordersPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesPsychology, AdolescentReproducibility of ResultsSelf ReportSeverity of Illness IndexSocial ParticipationYoung AdultConceptsBifactor modelPersonality traitsSocial functioningGeneral factorPersonality disorderDistinct personality traitsVolunteer community sampleSelf-report questionnairesMental health measuresYoung adult yearsOrthogonal factor modelStable behavioral traitNegative emotionalityImpulsivity traitsLatent personalityRelated personality disordersCommunity sampleBehavioral stylePersonality dimensionsYoung adulthoodMore impairmentMental healthAdult yearsOrthogonal factorsYoung adults
2017
A longitudinal investigation of the role of parental responses in predicting children's post‐traumatic distress
Hiller R, Meiser‐Stedman R, Lobo S, Creswell C, Fearon P, Ehlers A, Murray L, Halligan S. A longitudinal investigation of the role of parental responses in predicting children's post‐traumatic distress. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2017, 59: 781-789. PMID: 29197098, PMCID: PMC6849512, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12846.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress symptom severityPost-traumatic distressParental responsesPost-trauma outcomesStress symptom severityChild-report questionnairesOwn appraisalChild adjustmentAvoidant copingChildren's symptom levelsNegative appraisalsParent-child pairsLongitudinal examinationParental influenceLongitudinal investigationSupport styleSocial supportSymptom levelsChildren's experiencesPredictive effectObservational assessmentPotential mediatorsSymptom severityStyleAppraisalDevelopmental stability of general and specific factors of psychopathology from early childhood to adolescence: dynamic mutualism or p‐differentiation?
McElroy E, Belsky J, Carragher N, Fearon P, Patalay P. Developmental stability of general and specific factors of psychopathology from early childhood to adolescence: dynamic mutualism or p‐differentiation? Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2017, 59: 667-675. PMID: 29197107, PMCID: PMC6001631, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12849.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAmygdala volume and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to social stress
Barry T, Murray L, Fearon P, Moutsiana C, Johnstone T, Halligan S. Amygdala volume and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to social stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017, 85: 96-99. PMID: 28843903, PMCID: PMC5632999, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.07.487.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAmygdala volumePostnatal depressionMaternal postnatal depressionTotal amygdala volumeCortisol reactivityAdrenal (HPA) axis reactivityLower cortisol reactivityAdrenal axisCortisol secretionControl offspringAxis reactivityYoung adultsAmygdalaEarly adversityStress reactivitySocial stressSocial stressorsPresent studyEmotional processingEmotional pathologyOffspringCentral rolePathologyHierarchical linear modellingBrain
2016
Altered engagement of autobiographical memory networks in adult offspring of postnatally depressed mothers
Macdonald B, Murray L, Moutsiana C, Fearon P, Cooper P, Halligan S, Johnstone T. Altered engagement of autobiographical memory networks in adult offspring of postnatally depressed mothers. Biological Psychology 2016, 118: 147-153. PMID: 27208693, PMCID: PMC4962770, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.05.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLateral prefrontal cortexAutobiographical memoryPrefrontal cortexEmotional autobiographical memoriesRight middle frontal gyrusMaternal depressionPleasant autobiographical memoriesAutobiographical memory systemAutobiographical memory networkPosterior brain regionsMiddle temporal gyrusMiddle frontal gyrusRight frontal poleAutobiographical recallAltered engagementRecordings of participantsPositive situationsLateral prefrontalPrefrontal regulationFrontal gyrusGreater activationNeural mechanismsPND mothersTemporal gyrusNegative situations
2014
Insecure attachment during infancy predicts greater amygdala volumes in early adulthood
Moutsiana C, Johnstone T, Murray L, Fearon P, Cooper P, Pliatsikas C, Goodyer I, Halligan S. Insecure attachment during infancy predicts greater amygdala volumes in early adulthood. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2014, 56: 540-548. PMID: 25156392, PMCID: PMC4407912, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12317.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAmygdala volumeGreater amygdala volumesMaternal postnatal depressionLarger amygdala volumesInfant attachment statusProspective longitudinal studyLongitudinal studyMonths of ageMaternal depression historyAmygdala morphologyMRI assessmentHippocampal volumePostnatal depressionAdult brainDepression historyNeural changesEarly environmentEarly caregiving environmentAttachment statusVolumetric differencesYoung adultsEarly adulthoodNeural areasCaregiving environmentCommon variationMaking an effort to feel positive: insecure attachment in infancy predicts the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation in adulthood
Moutsiana C, Fearon P, Murray L, Cooper P, Goodyer I, Johnstone T, Halligan S. Making an effort to feel positive: insecure attachment in infancy predicts the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation in adulthood. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2014, 55: 999-1008. PMID: 24397574, PMCID: PMC4263234, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12198.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfant attachment statusEmotion regulationNeural underpinningsEmotional statesAttachment statusMother-infant relationshipCognitive controlNeural respondingPositive emotionsInsecure attachmentPositive affectInfant attachmentNeural substratesPrefrontal regionsGreater activationPrefrontal cortexNeural circuitryLongitudinal studyYoung adultsAnimal researchHuman developmentAffectAge 22Human adaptationEarly experience
2013
The longitudinal development of emotion regulation capacities in children at risk for externalizing disorders
Halligan S, Cooper P, Fearon P, Wheeler S, Crosby M, Murray L. The longitudinal development of emotion regulation capacities in children at risk for externalizing disorders. Development And Psychopathology 2013, 25: 391-406. PMID: 23627952, DOI: 10.1017/s0954579412001137.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEmotion regulation capacitiesMaternal sensitivityEmotion regulationRegulation capacityChildren's emotion regulationPoor emotion regulationEmotional regulation capacitySensitive maternal behaviorLower maternal sensitivityDirect observational assessmentsNegative emotionsInsensitive parentingPsychosocial adversityDevelopmental influencesBehavioral problemsLow-risk counterpartsHigh-risk childrenObservational assessmentLongitudinal studyLongitudinal developmentMaternal behaviorCausal roleStages of assessmentChildrenEarly infancy
2011
Maternal Postnatal Depression and the Development of Depression in Offspring Up to 16 Years of Age
Murray L, Arteche A, Fearon P, Halligan S, Goodyer I, Cooper P. Maternal Postnatal Depression and the Development of Depression in Offspring Up to 16 Years of Age. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2011, 50: 460-470. PMID: 21515195, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentChildChild of Impaired ParentsChild, PreschoolDepression, PostpartumDepressive Disorder, MajorDysthymic DisorderFamily ConflictFemaleHumansInfantInterview, PsychologicalLife Change EventsLongitudinal StudiesMaleMass ScreeningObject AttachmentProspective StudiesResilience, PsychologicalRisk FactorsSocial SupportConceptsYears of ageDepressed mothersPostnatal depressionClinical depressionAdolescent depressionFamily adversityMain study outcomeMaternal postnatal depressionDevelopment of depressionProspective longitudinal studyDevelopmental risk pathwayIndex mothersOffspring riskProbable casesNondepressed mothersStudy outcomesChild vulnerabilityInsecure infant attachmentDepressionMothersLongitudinal studyRisk pathwaysFamily assessmentDevelopmental riskRisk