Background
Researchers at the Research Unit at Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Aarhus University Hospital are leading in research on treatment of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), autism spectrum disorders, and eating disorders. Psychiatric disorders are complex conditions; the aetiology involves genetic factors, brain development, psychological conditions and environmental aspects. Our research aims at analysing the background and course of disorders; moreover, we conduct clinical research in treatment aspects and outcome.
The Research Unit performs clinical research in collaboration with the clinical units at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatryin Central Denmark Region. This research aims at improving intervention strategies and treatment outcome. It is a key issue to try to implement results of clinical trials in clinical practice. Clinical research is combined with multidisciplinary research projects regarding genetics, brain research, psychology, and psychotherapy/medical treatment.
Ongoing projects
Cognition and behaviour in school-aged children with and without ADHD
In this project the neuropsychological deficits of ADHD are explored.
Parental training programme for treating ADHD in toddlers and young children
This is a large randomised, controlled multicentre trial analysing the effectiveness of a parent training programme for Danish preschool children with ADHD.
Study of sleep patterns in children with ADHD before and after treatment
Children with ADHD and sleep problems are compared by objective measurements with children with ADHD without sleep problems. The influence of medical treatment for ADHD is analysed.
Early identification of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders in toddlers and young children
This study is based on The Danish National Birth Cohort, a large cohort of pregnant women with long term follow-up with the purpose to study exposures from conception to early childhood and their impact on health and disease susceptibility later in life. It is studied whether parent reported observations from the first months of their baby’s life and years can predict which children are later diagnosed with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
Nordic long-term OCD-study
A multicentre Nordic study of psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatment of OCD (severe obsessions and compulsions). Ongoing studies are on neuropsychological and genetic predictors for treatment efficacy, long-term course of treated OCD and quality of life aspects.
Milestones/publications
OCD is often a chronic illness. Thomsen PH. Eur Child and Adolesc Psychiatry. 1994:3:82-96
Functional symptoms are also seen in pre-school children. Rask CU et al. Eur J Epidemiol. 2009;24:625-34
Not all children with ADHD have problems with their executive functions. Lambek et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010;51:895-904
Many patients with anorexia develop other eating disorders.
Helverskov JL et al. Eur Eat Disord. 2010; 18:453-63
Sleep problems and daily functioning in children with ADHD: An investigation of the role of impairment, ADHD presentations, and psychiatric comorbidity. Virring A et al. J Atten Disord 2014; epub ahead of print Jul 11
Effectiveness of cognitive behavior treatment for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: Acute outcomes from the Nordic long-term OCD treatment study (NordLOTS). Torp NC et al. Behav Res Ther 2015; 64:15-23
The early signs of ADHD and autism in toddlers. Lemcke S. Aarhus University, Ph.D.-thesis 2014
Methods
Research in psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents stretches from epidemiological aspects to clinical research, randomised controlled trials, genetic and epigenetic studies, and brain research.
The scientific methods include epidemiology, randomised controlled clinical trials, outcome studies, neuropsychology and
genetics.
Most important collaborators
Nordic child and adolescent psychiatric centres,
University of Southampton, UK
Yale Child Study Center, USA,
Center for Disease Control, USA,
University of Toronto, Canada.