Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and atypical sensory processing patterns. METHOD/METHODS:For this systematic review and meta-analysis, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from their inception until June 30, 2024. Studies examining sensory processing patterns using questionnaires in participants with a diagnosis of ADHD compared with healthy controls were included. The study risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using R Version 4.3.1 software, considering sensory modulation severity atypicities as the primary outcome. The risk of publication bias was explored, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of findings. RESULTS:= 97%). Heterogeneity was high in all analyses. Only 9 studies were deemed at overall low risk of bias. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Even though available ADHD clinical guidelines do not specifically mention the need to assess sensory processing in ADHD, this meta-analysis suggests that this should be systematically explored in the evaluation of children and adults referred for ADHD. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 30 studies including over 5,000 participants to assess the link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and atypical sensory processing. Findings show that individuals with ADHD experience significantly higher sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidance, sensory seeking, and low sensory registration compared to controls. Given their impact on daily functioning, assessing sensory processing could improve clinical evaluations for both children and adults with ADHD. STUDY REGISTRATION INFORMATION/UNASSIGNED:Association between ADHD and sensory processing disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42022325271. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT/UNASSIGNED:We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science.

Iron plays a vital role in early brain development, supporting critical processes such as myelination, dendritogenesis, and neurotransmitter synthesis. The perinatal period marks a crucial transition from the intrauterine to the extrauterine environment, requiring significant brain adaptation to new stimuli and metabolic demands. However, tight spatiotemporal resolution capturing the timing and sequence of brain iron changes surrounding this critical transition has yet to be achieved. Leveraging a longitudinal perinatal cohort with 147 multi-echo MRI scans spanning from 25 to 60 post-conceptual gestational weeks, we mapped brain iron growth trajectories with R2* estimation across fetal, newborn and neonatal periods. We also examined whether sex, gestational age at birth, and birth weight influence R2* developmental trajectories. We found that parietal and superior temporal regions predominately show linear growth trajectories throughout the perinatal period across birth, while the occipital cortex, the temporal pole, inferior temporal regions and a subset of frontal regions exhibit non-linear trends. For most of the non-linear trajectories, growth rates peak around 40 weeks, highlighting the critical window of birth transition for brain R2* change. These results provide the first longitudinal insights into R2* development across birth, uncovering distinct regional growth patterns that may align with different phases of neurodevelopment.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Sleep deprivation among young adults is a pervasive problem driven by high levels of stress, excessive screen time, disruptive school and living environments, irregular sleep habits, high academic demands, early school start times, and low rates of physical activity. Difficulties with emotion regulation, high rates of anxiety and depression, and poor academic performance are only a few of the struggles faced by sleep deprived young adults. Although sleep apps and wearables are increasingly popular, knowledge of positive sleep health without the proper tools to motivate and instill behavior change can contribute to anxiety and negative cognitions about sleep, which only further fuel the problem. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:In this report we describe a series of undergraduate university curricula, housed within a unique undergraduate department, designed to enhance not only knowledge of sleep, but also associated behavior changes that have been demonstrated to improve sleep, mood, and anxiety among university students. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Numerous courses within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies (CAMS) department at New York University address sleep directly, teaching students about the science of sleep and how they can improve their own sleep to enhance overall wellbeing. Our work to date demonstrates that students find these courses desirable and impactful. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:College courses present a unique opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of young adults by teaching about sleep health. Undergraduate campuses may represent an underutilized locale from which to address population health.

BACKGROUND:Adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant mental health challenges, yet their perspectives are often underrepresented in the design of preventive strategies. Co-design approaches, such as human-centered design (HCD), offer a promising way to tailor interventions and implementation strategies to adolescents’ needs and local context. In LMICs, these methods require careful adaptation to address resource constraints, limited design literacy, and cultural norms. This study documents how HCD was adapted to engage adolescents in northern Ghana as co-designers of school-based mental health preventive strategies. METHODS:Guided by the first two phases of HCD, we conducted two workshops with 24 students from 12 public senior high schools in Tamale, Ghana. Workshop 1 (Inspiration) used structured, case-based discussions informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to explore adolescents’ perspectives on mental health. Workshop 2 (Ideation) used interactive choice-based activities to elicit youth-generated strategies. To align with cognitive and sociocultural factors, we incorporated scaffolded facilitation, hands-on activities, and peer-led engagement. Qualitative data from facilitator notes, artifacts, and audio-confirmed summaries were synthesized using structured rapid qualitative analysis. RESULTS:Adolescents identified key mental health concerns, including stigma, peer and family influences, and fears about confidentiality. Gender-specific discussions revealed culturally rooted concerns, such as peer pressure and substance use among boys and limited support-seeking among girls. Adolescents prioritized five school strategies: teacher training, curricular integration, mentorship programs, activities that promote positive thinking and mindfulness, and entertainment-based mental health education. Youth demonstrated a conceptual shift from viewing mental health as an individual problem to a shared responsibility across schools and communities. Formation of an Adolescent Advisory Board reflected youth interest in sustained leadership and co-design. CONCLUSIONS:Contextualized co-design methods can meaningfully engage adolescents in LMIC settings and support the development of culturally grounded, feasible, and youth-prioritized mental health strategies. Structured facilitation enhances both the inclusivity and authenticity of adolescent engagement. This study contributes to implementation science by presenting a replicable co-design framework with policy relevance and providing a foundation for multilevel intervention development in resource-constrained educational systems. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-25012-0.

Cerebellar dysfunction affects socio-affective abilities beyond motor control. Recent studies suggest that non-invasive cerebellar neurostimulation can modulate social cognition networks, offering potential therapeutic benefits for children with autism, ADHD, and mood disorders. However, its application in pediatrics remains largely unexplored. This review summarizes emerging pediatric research on cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We discuss their mechanisms, potential benefits, and safety considerations, highlighting preliminary findings that suggest feasibility and effectiveness. Ethical concerns and technical challenges related to pediatric neuroanatomy and stimulation parameters are also addressed. While early results are promising, further clinical trials and neurophysiological studies are essential to optimize protocols and confirm long-term efficacy. Advancing our understanding of cerebellar involvement in socio-affective functions could lead to innovative rehabilitation strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:The Yazidi people are a Kurdish religious minority group who have been persecuted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The complexity of the trauma the Yazidi people endured, and a limited understanding of their illness belief models have created challenges to providing culturally sensitive psychiatric care. The purpose of this study was to use focus group methodology to understand Yazidi refugees' experiences, to provide culturally informed mental health care. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Two in-person focus groups were held in Calgary, Alberta with Yazidi refugee women from Iraq and Syria (N = 6, N = 7) to assess perspectives on mental health, preferred coping strategies and perceived barriers to care. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Focus group design and facilitation were done in partnership with Yazidi cultural brokers and interpreters. Focus groups were conducted in English and interpreted in Kurmanji. The focus groups were recorded, coded, and subjected to qualitative content thematic analyses. The analysis was guided by an interpretivist epistemology and informed by pragmatism, to situate participants' perspectives within their social context while generating culturally informed insights for psychiatric care in Canada. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Experiences with psychiatric symptoms (e.g. grief and loss, somatization, depression, trauma) were identified. Family reunification and community support were emphasized as preferred coping methods. Perceived unrealistic expectations of refugees post-migration, social isolation and language difficulties were acknowledged as barriers to care. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Providing appropriate psychiatric care to Yazidi refugee women requires a culturally informed approach. Findings in this study support the need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions in refugee populations post migration.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Children with septo-optic-pituitary dysplasia (SOD) may experience a range of visual impairments and hormonal dysfunctions beyond developmental delay/intellectual disability. The literature describes sleep fragmentation, circadian rhythm disruptions and reduced sleep efficiency. These manifestations are believed to be closely linked to both structural and functional abnormalities associated with SOD, potentially disrupting the natural circadian rhythm. Both anomalies in midline brain structures and decreased visual input could potentially impact melatonin secretion, although a distinct melatonin profile for SOD patients has yet to be identified. Furthermore, the specific contribution of these factors to sleep disturbances in SOD remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of sleep and its characteristics, along with the melatonin profile, among paediatric patients diagnosed with SOD. A comparison will be made between these findings and those of children with isolated bilateral visual impairment, as well as patients with agenesis of the corpus callosum. METHODS AND ANALYSIS/METHODS:Participants aged between 3 and 18 years previously diagnosed with SOD will be recruited prospectively. Each participant will be assessed at baseline and at each follow-up visit scheduled to evaluate the clinical course. Sleep quality and daytime sleepiness changes will be tracked using actigraphic assessment, standardised sleep questionnaires and a sleep EEG. Additionally, plasma and salivary melatonin profiles will be assessed for each participant. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION/BACKGROUND:This study has been approved by local Ethics Committee (N°0049187/23). The study findings will be shared through publication in an international peer-reviewed journal and presented at both national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER/BACKGROUND:NCT06262152.