Improving Outcomes in Mental Health (IOMH)—an Australian longitudinal clinical study of families with children with neurodevelopmental problems: cohort profile
Mohan Karunanithi,
Enda M Byrne,
Naomi R Wray,
Honey Heussler,
Vanessa E Cobham,
Nisreen Aouira,
Anjali K Henders,
Christel M Middeldorp,
Sophie Howarth,
Madhura Bhadravathi Lokeshappa,
Leanne M Wallace,
Daniel P Sullivan,
Leanne Payne,
Dana E Galligan,
Laura Ziser,
Lorelle Nunn,
Isabella Andersen,
Akina Kato,
Cassandra Mingin,
Sally O’Scanaill,
Ayu Paramecwari,
Matthew R Sanders
Affiliations
Mohan Karunanithi
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Enda M Byrne
2 The University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Naomi R Wray
6 The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Honey Heussler
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Vanessa E Cobham
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nisreen Aouira
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Anjali K Henders
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Christel M Middeldorp
Levvel, Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sophie Howarth
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Madhura Bhadravathi Lokeshappa
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Leanne M Wallace
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Daniel P Sullivan
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Leanne Payne
Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Dana E Galligan
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Laura Ziser
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Lorelle Nunn
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Isabella Andersen
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Akina Kato
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cassandra Mingin
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sally O’Scanaill
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ayu Paramecwari
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Matthew R Sanders
The University of Queensland Parenting and Family Support Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Purpose Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a range of challenges which impact their daily functioning and that of their family. NDDs are often associated with significant mental health problems which can influence the course. The Improving Outcomes in Mental Health cohort described in this article aims to investigate the risk factors for the persistence and severity of mental health problems in children with NDDs.Participants A total of 1084 families (primary caregivers and children) were recruited from the Child Development Program at the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service in Brisbane, Australia. 1471 caregivers (female n=1036) participated in the study, which included 382 families with 2 or more caregivers participating. The children were predominantly male (71%), with the average age of all children 5.6 years.Findings to date The most prevalent child clinical diagnoses were ASD and ADHD, with half of children receiving more than one diagnosis. Caregiver reports indicated that children were experiencing clinical levels of depression (30.8%) and anxiety (27.6%). Approximately 39% of caregivers scored in the subclinical or clinical range for at least one Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders measure, the majority reporting depressive problems.Future plans Future plans for this data set include analysis of environmental variables such as family structure, income, school achievements and leisure activities as risk factors for the persistence of mental health problems in children with NDDs. Genetic data will be used to provide insights into the heritability of mental illness and improve prediction.
