All in the Family: A Systematic Review of the Effect of Caregiver-Administered Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions on Family Functioning and Relationships Abstract A number of intervention models aimed at addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-related behaviors require caregivers to perform intensive and oftentimes extended protocols (Bearss et al. in Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 18(2):170–182, 2015). Though a number of research findings describe how characteristics of the child with ASD affect the mental health and stress experienced by caregivers and family members (Davis and Carter in J Autism Dev Disord 38(7):1278–1291, 2008; Tomanik et al. in J Intellect Dev Disabil 29(1):16–26, 2004), few studies investigate effects on overall family functioning and relationships among other family members. This review aimed to examine caregiver-delivered interventions as they relate to ASD, the impact of these caregiver-administered interventions on the family unit and family relationships, and potential future targets of treatments and treatment structures that include family members. The results of the review illustrate the nature of caregiver-administered interventions, which largely benefit family functioning and relationships.

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS): A Review of Research Findings in Families, Schools, and Treatment Facilities Abstract Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is a psychosocial treatment model for behaviorally challenging youth, which has been applied in a diverse array of settings, including families, schools, and therapeutic facilities. Numerous studies have documented its effectiveness and examined factors that mediate and moderate the effectiveness of the model. Data have thus far shown that, with regard to behavioral improvements, CPS is at least the equivalent of the standard of care for externalizing youth, Parent Management Training, and that CPS may hold additional benefits as regards parent–child interactions and children’s skill enhancement.

Delinquent Behavior: Systematic Review of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors Abstract Delinquency refers to a juveniles’ behavior pattern characterized by repeated offending, and is regarded mainly in its social, but also criminal aspects. Delinquent and non-delinquent individuals may be a product of the same society or even the same family. Young individuals who are unable to find affection and protection within the family may become more susceptible to delinquency as a form of empowerment. More than socioeconomic conditions, the lack of interaction between parents and children, the existence of psychopathological problems in either parent, and academic problems, together with a biological vulnerability, may be deciding factors for the involvement of young individuals in delinquent behavior. This review aims to analyze the influence of environmental and genetic factors in the development of delinquent behavior. Studies related to the influence of the environment and genes on the development of delinquent behavior were obtained from multiple databases, through rigorous exclusion and inclusion criteria. Of the 152 documents retrieved, 87 were retained for further analysis, and 36 final studies were considered eligible for inclusion. In addition to these, ten studies were added trough manual search, with the final sample thus comprising 46 articles, published between 1983 and 2016. Objectives, methodological aspects (samples and instruments), and main conclusions were extracted from each study. Overall, the interaction between genetic and environmental factors appears to best explain the variation of delinquent behavior. Environmental risk factors may have differential effects on the behavior of individuals, particularly according to their genetic propensity for delinquency.

Family-Based Psychological Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review Abstract A significant number of children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) demonstrate poor response to the current gold standard treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Recent findings suggest that family variables affect treatment response highlighting the need for a meta-analytic review of the precise impact of family variables on OCD-related symptoms and processes. The current review and meta-analysis examined the effect of family-based interventions on OCD symptom and family factor outcomes for children and adolescents with OCD. The moderating effects of the degree of parental involvement and number of family factors targeted in treatment were investigated. An extensive literature search identified 37 eligible studies (1727 OCD participants). Large significant pooled mean effect sizes for OCD symptoms and Family Accommodation (FA), respectively, were obtained at posttest (g = 1.56; g = 1.00) and follow-up (g = 1.69; g = 1.98). Moderator analyses indicated that the number of family factors targeted in treatment significantly moderated outcomes on measures of FA (z = 2.21, p = 0.03), but not on Children’s/Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (C/Y-BOCS) outcomes. FA has been significantly correlated with OCD symptom severity and poorer treatment outcomes, and there is data to suggest that FA may mediate OCD symptom outcomes (e.g., Piacentini et al. in J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 50:1149–1161, 2011). Findings show that the greater the number of family factors targeted, the greater the reduction in FA at post, highlighting the importance of addressing a range of family factors in child OCD treatment to optimise outcomes.

Fathers of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Impact of Fathers’ Involvement on Youth, Families, and Intervention Abstract Literature in developmental psychology suggests that mothers and fathers both play unique and important roles in their children’s development. However, research investigating the unique contributions and psychological functioning of fathers of youth with developmental disabilities, and the role that fathers play in effective intervention, remains limited. Whereas evidence suggests that parent-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can lead to increased engagement from parents, and reduced stress and psychopathology commonly experienced by parents of youth with ASD, these interventions often do not specifically address potential benefits of paternal involvement. This systematic review aimed to understand how often/how commonly research on children with ASD examines the father’s role within the family, how often fathers are targeted directly during intervention efforts, and the impact of increased paternal involvement. This review suggests that fathers of children with ASD are not often included in research on children with ASD, in either their general involvement or in their inclusion in intervention. While studies generally suggest that these fathers may be less involved than mothers in childrearing practices, having both parents highly involved may improve the overall family system across many levels, and fathers may be equally as effective as mothers in implementing intervention strategies. Overall, this review suggests that while often overlooked, fathers of youth with ASD make important contributions to children with ASD and the larger family and should be included in future research on children with ASD.

A Systematic Review and Evaluation of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Children and Youth with Disruptive Behavior: Rigor of Development and Recommendations for Use Abstract Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) provide a framework for evidence-based practice; however, few studies have assessed the methodological quality of CPGs relevant to child and youth mental health. This study was a systematic review of CPGs for the assessment, prevention and treatment of disruptive behavior, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD) and aggression in children and youth. Systematic review identified 29 CPGs meeting inclusion criteria that were appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) validated tool. Twenty-two guidelines addressed ADHD, 2 CD, 1 ODD, 2 for Behavior Disorders collectively and 2 for Aggression. Among the 29 guidelines, two that were developed for ADHD (NICE 2013a; Spanish Ministry of Health, 2010) and one practice guideline developed for CD (NICE 2013b) met high quality criteria; one guideline for behavior disorders (Gorman et al. 2015), two for ADHD (AAP 2011a, b; SIGN 2009a, b, c, d, e), and two for aggression (Knapp et al. 2012; Scotto Rosato et al. 2012a, b) met minimum quality criteria. Findings from this review provide important information for clinicians and organizations who want to utilize guidelines to implement best-practice clinical services for children and youth with disruptive behavior.

Addressing the “Myth” of Racial Trauma: Developmental and Ecological Considerations for Youth of Color Abstract Trauma is prevalent among children and adolescents, with youth of color generally reporting greater exposure compared to White youth. One factor that may account for this difference is racial stress, which can manifest into trauma symptoms. Although racial stress and trauma (RST) significantly impacts youth of color, most of the research to date has focused on adult populations. In addition, little attention has been given to the impact of the ecological context in how youth encounter and cope with RST. As such, we propose the Developmental and Ecological Model of Youth Racial Trauma (DEMYth-RT), a conceptual model of how racial stressors manifest to influence the trauma symptomatology of children and adolescents of color. Within developmental periods, we explore how individual, family, and community processes influence youth’s symptoms and coping. We also discuss challenges to identifying racial trauma in young populations according to clinician limitations and the post-traumatic stress disorder framework within the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders—fifth edition (DSM-5). The article concludes with implications on applying DEMYth-RT in clinical and research settings to address RST for youth of color.

A Meta-analysis to Guide the Enhancement of CBT for Childhood Anxiety: Exposure Over Anxiety Management Abstract Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the most empirically supported therapy for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs) but has not reliably outperformed other credible interventions. The current study used meta-analysis to examine the frequency with which the most common treatment components are included in outcome studies and the relation of these components to symptom improvement. Seventy-five studies were identified that included youth with an anxiety disorder treated with CBT or a comparison condition. The protocols for the 111 CBT conditions generally consisted of 12, 1-h sessions delivered to the child with minimal parent inclusion. A greater amount of in-session exposure was related to significantly larger effect sizes between CBT and waitlist control across reporters (− 0.12 to − 0.15; P’s < .05) and from pre- to post-treatment for child report (− .06; P < .01). Compared to treatments that omitted relaxation, treatments that included relaxation strategies were associated with significantly smaller pre- to post-treatment effect sizes across reporters (0.38 to 0.80; P’s < .05). The current study suggests that CBT protocols for CADs that emphasize in-session exposure and do not include relaxation have the potential to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of therapy. Dismantling studies directly testing these hypotheses are needed.

Lost in Transition? Evidence-Based Treatments for Adolescents and Young Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Results of an Uncontrolled Feasibility Trial Evaluating Cognitive Processing Therapy Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not uncommon among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Left untreated, transition to adulthood might be especially challenging and/or prolonged for AYAs. However, it is unclear whether AYAs are adequately represented in current PTSD treatment research and whether they benefit to the same degree as younger or older individuals. In the first part of the paper, we reflect on developmental considerations in the treatment of AYAs and give an overview of current age-specific results in PTSD treatment research. Furthermore, we review individual trauma-focused evidence-based treatments that were examined in AYAs over the last 10 years. In the second part, we present data from an uncontrolled feasibility trial evaluating cognitive processing therapy (CPT) with some age-adapted modifications and an exposure component (written accounts). We treated 17 AYAs (aged 14 to 21) suffering from posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). At posttreatment, participants had improved significantly with respect to clinician-rated PTSS severity (d = 1.32). Treatment gains were maintained throughout the 6-week and 6-month follow-ups. Results indicated that CPT, with only minor adaptations, was feasible and safe in AYAs. The recommendations for future research focus on the inclusion of young adults in trials with adolescents, more refined age reporting in clinical trials, and the encouragement of dismantling studies in youth. To conclude, clinical recommendations for caregiver involvement and the addressing of developmental tasks, motivational issues and emotion regulation problems are discussed.

An Emotion Recognition–Awareness Vulnerability Hypothesis for Depression in Adolescence: A Systematic Review Abstract In this systematic review, we examined the evidence for an adolescent emotion recognition–awareness vulnerability to depression. The current review provided a qualitative synthesis of the emotion recognition (26 studies) and emotion awareness (38 studies) literatures for adolescent depression and was grounded within the framework of affective social competence (Halberstadt et al. in Soc Dev 10:79–119, 2001). It was hypothesized that deficits or difficulties in recognizing emotions in others and in being aware of emotions within the self would increase vulnerability to depression for adolescents. There was limited evidence to support a general emotion recognition vulnerability due to heterogeneous research designs and inconsistencies across studies; however, three emerging trends in specific recognition deficits associated with adolescent depression were identified: sensitivity to sadness, under-perceiving happiness, and over-perceiving anger. In contrast, there was robust support for an emotion awareness vulnerability to depression from cross-sectional, longitudinal, and longitudinal onset studies. When recognition and awareness are considered together, this review indicated that deficits in emotion awareness may exacerbate difficulties with emotion recognition during stressful or emotionally evocative contexts. This review highlighted the need for future investigations into emotion recognition and emotion awareness deficits in relation to adolescent depression using methodological innovations and longitudinal, clinical designs.