Glucocorticoid receptor gene methylation and HPA-axis regulation in adolescents. The TRAILS study.

Early life adversity and psychopathology are thought to be linked through HPA-axis deregulation. Changes in methylation levels of stress reactivity genes such as the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) can be induced by adversity. Higher NR3C1 methylation levels have been associated with a reduced NR3C1 expression, possibly leading to impaired negative feedback regulation of the HPA-axis.

Methylation of NR3C1 and SLC6A4 and internalizing problems. The TRAILS study.

Background: The relationship between early adverse life events and later internalizing problems could be mediated by DNA methylation. Adversity has been associated with higher methylation levels in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in adolescents. We investigated cross-sectional and prospective associations of NR3C1 and SLC6A4 methylation with adolescents׳ clinical diagnoses of internalizing disorders and internalizing symptom scores.

Adverse life events and allele-specific methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in adolescents: the TRAILS study.

Objectives: Adverse life events increase vulnerability to affective disorders later in life, possibly mediated by methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4). We investigated the relationship of SLC6A4 methylation with various types of adversity (perinatal adversity, traumatic youth experiences and stressful life events [SLEs]), as well as with the timing of SLEs (during childhood [0-11 years] or during adolescence [12-15 years]). In addition, we investigated whether different serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region genotypes were equally sensitive to SLE-related methylation.

Emotion recognition specialization and context-dependent risk of anxiety and depression in adolescents.

Background: Some adolescents function poorly in apparently benign environments, while others thrive despite hassles and difficulties. The aim of this study was to examine if adolescents with specialized skills in the recognition of either positive or negative emotions have a context-dependent risk of developing an anxiety or depressive disorder during adolescence, depending on exposure to positive or harsh parenting.

Methods: Data came from a large prospective Dutch population study (N = 1539).

Defining the role of common variation in the genomic and biological architecture of adult human height.

Using genome-wide data from 253,288 individuals, we identified 697 variants at genome-wide significance that together explained one-fifth of the heritability for adult height. By testing different numbers of variants in independent studies, we show that the most strongly associated ∼2,000, ∼3,700 and ∼9,500 SNPs explained ∼21%, ∼24% and ∼29% of phenotypic variance. Furthermore, all common variants together captured 60% of heritability.

Corticotropin (ACTH)-reactive immunoglobulins in adolescents in relation to antisocial behavior and stress-induced cortisol response. The TRAILS study.

Elevated levels of corticotropin (ACTH)-reactive immunoglobulins (ACTH IgG) were found in males with conduct disorder, suggesting their involvement in the biology of antisocial behavior. We first aimed to confirm these findings in a large general population sample of adolescents. Secondly, we studied the association between ACTH IgG levels and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress.

Ethnicity, socioeconomic position and severity of problems as predictors of mental health care use in 5- to 8-year-old children with problem behaviour.

Background: Empirical research on mental health care use and its determinants in young school-aged children is still scarce. In this study, we investigated the role of ethnicity, socioeconomic position (SEP) and perceived severity by both parents and teachers on mental health care use in 5- to 8-year old children with emotional and/or behavioural problems.

Methods: Data from 1,269 children with a high score([P90) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the school year 2008–2009 were linked to psychiatric case register data over the years 2010–2011.

Ethnic differences in problem perception and perceived need as determinants of referral in young children with problem behaviour.

An underrepresentation of ethnic minority children in mental health care settings is consistently reported. Parents of ethnic minority children are, however, less likely to perceive problem behaviour in their children. Our hypothesis was that, as a result of ethnic differences in problem perception, referral to care by a child health professional (CHP) would be lower for 5- to 6-year-old (high-risk) children from ethnic minority backgrounds than for their peers from the ethnic majority (Dutch origin).

Validation of the SDQ in a multi-ethnic population of young children.

Background: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a valuable screening tool for identifying psychosocial problems. Its performance in a multi-ethnic society, common to many paediatric health care workers, has not been investigated. Because it is important that screening instruments are valid and reliable for all ethnic groups within one society, we examined differences in the SDQ's psychometric properties in a multi-ethnic society.

Does the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) measure anxiety symptoms consistently across adolescence? The TRAILS study.

We assessed if the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) measures anxiety symptoms similarly across age groups within adolescence. This is crucial for valid comparison of anxiety levels between different age groups. Anxiety symptoms were assessed biennially in a representative population sample (n = 2226) at three time points (age range 10-17 years) using the RCADS anxiety subscales (generalized anxiety disorder [GAD], obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD], panic disorder [PD], separation anxiety [SA], social phobia [SP]).

Gender-Specific Developmental Trajectories of Anxiety during Adolescence: Determinants and Outcomes. The TRAILS Study.

Objective: To identify developmental trajectories of anxiety symptoms for adolescent girls and boys. Trajectories were compared with regard to early-adolescent risk factors and psychiatric outcomes during adolescence and in young adulthood.

Method: A community sample of 2,230 adolescents was assessed three times across a six-year interval (10-17 years).

Structured shared decision-making using dialogue and visualization: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate a method, "Counseling in Dialogue" (CD), developed to increase the quality of counseling in youth mental health. Decisional conflict was used as indicator of the quality of counseling and shared decision-making.

Methods: 94 children aged 2-12 years were randomized into a CD group and a care as usual (CU) group.

Ethnic differences in problem perception and perceived need for care for young children with problem behaviour.

Background:  Problem perception and perceived need for professional care are important determinants that can contribute to ethnic differences in the use of mental health care. Therefore, we studied ethnic differences in problem perception and perceived need for professional care in the parents and teachers of 5- to 6-year-old children from the general population who were selected for having emotional and behavioural problems.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with data of 10,951 children from grade two of the elementary schools in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond area, The Netherlands.

When parent and teacher ratings don't agree: the Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS).

Objectives: A commonly encountered situation for evaluating clinicians is a history of significant problems in one setting with little or no difficulties in another. This study aims to describe this phenomenon and to examine its relations with other child and family characteristics.

Method: A total of 1,730 children (mean age 11.

Trajectories of CBCL attention problems in childhood.

The first aim of this study was to identify developmental trajectories of Attention Problems in twins followed from age 6 to 12 years. Second, we investigated whether singletons follow similar trajectories. Maternal longitudinal ratings on the Attention Problems (AP) subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist were obtained for a sample of 12,486 twins from the Netherlands Twin Register and for a general population sample of 1,346 singletons.

Cross-national comparison of the link between socioeconomic status and emotional and behavioral problems in youths.

Introduction: In previous longitudinal studies in the US, lower socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with more emotional and behavioral problems. It remains unclear whether these findings can be generalized outside the US, as different countries vary in their health care systems and prevention of psychopathology in youth. Therefore, we studied the same associations in a comparable sample in The Netherlands and directly tested for differences between the US and The Netherlands.

A twin-singleton comparison of developmental trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems in 6- to 12-year-old children.

Research on twin-singleton differences in externalizing and internalizing problems in childhood is largely cross-sectional and yields contrasting results. The goal of this study was to compare developmental trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems in 6- to 12-year-old twins and singletons. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) maternal reports of externalizing and internalizing problems were obtained for a sample of 9651 twins from the Netherlands Twin Register and for a representative general population sample of 1351 singletons.

Prospective community study of family stress and anxiety in (pre)adolescents: the TRAILS study.

For prevention of anxiety in children and adolescents, it is important to know whether family stress is a predictor of anxiety. We studied this in 1,875 adolescents from the Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) who were followed up for 2 years, from age 10-12 to 12-14 years. Adolescents reported anxiety and depression symptoms at both assessments, and parents reported family stress (family dysfunction and parenting stress) at the first assessment.

Anxiety and depression are risk factors rather than consequences of functional somatic symptoms in a general population of adolescents: the TRAILS study.

Background: It is well known that functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are associated with anxiety and depression. However, evidence is lacking about how they are related to FSS. The aim of this study was to clarify these relationships and examine whether anxiety and depression are distinctly related to FSS.

Gender and body size affect the response of erythrocyte folate to folic acid treatment.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) differs between men and women for some vitamins, but not for folate. The RDA for folate is derived mainly from metabolic studies in women. We assessed if men differ from women in their response of erythrocyte folate to folic acid supplementation.

Ethnic disparities in mental health and educational attainment: comparing migrant and native children.

Unlabelled: STUDY BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ethnic disparities in mental health in adolescence may play a role in the development of ethnic disparities in educational attainment. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of ethnic disparities in mental health problems in adolescence to ethnic disparities in educational attainment in adulthood.

Methods: We followed two community samples of respectively 486 Dutch native and 168 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-15 years old) into adulthood (21-25 years old).

Development of ethnic disparities in internalizing and externalizing problems from adolescence into young adulthood.

Background: Little is known about changes in ethnic disparities in mental health during the development of adolescents into young adults. The aim of this study was to study the development of disparities in internalizing and externalizing problems between Dutch natives and Turkish migrant children from adolescence into adulthood.

Methods: Turkish migrants (n = 217) and Dutch natives (n = 723) completed two comparable questionnaires about internalizing and externalizing problems: the Youth Self-Report at age 11-18 and the (Young) Adult Self-Report ten years later, at age 21-28.

Determinants of daily smoking in Turkish young adults in the Netherlands.

Background: As little is known about the determinants of smoking in large ethnic minorities in the Netherlands and other Western European countries, we studied the determinants of smoking young adult offspring of Turkish migrants to the Netherlands.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 439 Turkish adults (18-28 y) in 2003. Smokers were compared with never smokers for five groups of determinants: demographic and socioeconomic factors, behavioral and emotional problems, psychosocial factors, and cultural factors.

Ethnic disparities in problem behaviour in adolescence contribute to ethnic disparities in social class in adulthood.

Background: It is important for prevention of social class disparities to know how ethnic disparities in social class arise among migrant children. We contribute to this understanding by examining the role of problem behaviour in adolescence.

Methods: Prospective observational study with 753 Dutch native and 217 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-18 year) followed for 10 years.