Mental, Behavioral and Development Health

A study highlights prior self-harm, traumatic brain injury, family instability, and social vulnerability as major risk factors associated with suicide among Black youth.

New research demonstrates that targeted early intervention services improve academic performance and long-term health for children with developmental disabilities.

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A study found no impact toward neurodevelopmental outcomes among toddlers exposed to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in utero.

Children who received early intervention services before aged 3 years showed academic benefits in third-grade math and English language arts.

A study found that combining remote and in-person delivery of a parenting program improved young children’s developmental outcomes and home environments.

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A study found high rates of neurodevelopmental diagnoses and service use among children with congenital heart disease following infant heart surgery.

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AAP updates guidance on children’s digital media use, urging child-centered design and system-level action beyond screen time limits.

A study found that individuals with ADHD traits in childhood had increased odds of physical multimorbidity and disability by midlife.

Eye-tracking technology revolutionizes autism diagnosis, enabling earlier detection and intervention for children, enhancing clinical efficiency and accuracy.

FDA accepted centanafadine NDA for priority review, supported by phase 3 trials showing efficacy in children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD.

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Researchers identified 5 distinct classifications of youth suicide, revealing that nearly half of cases had no prior clinical contact or documented risk.

Analysis of nearly 900 million hours of monitored infant sleep shows rapid stabilization of sleep patterns in the first year of life.

A large 2026 meta-analysis found no association between prenatal paracetamol (acetaminophen) use and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children.

Cumulative prenatal adversities were linked to higher adolescent mental health risk, highlighting the importance of prenatal history and early clinical monitoring.

Data show that adolescents average more than 1 hour of smartphone use during school hours, raising concerns about attention, learning, and policy enforcement in schools.

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Young adult and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer exhibit accelerated epigenetic aging associated with worse neurocognitive outcomes.

Multiple adverse prenatal exposures have been linked to lasting behavioral problems and altered brain development through adolescence.

Prenatal exposure to hot, humid conditions was associated with significantly reduced child growth, with effects far greater than heat alone.

Teen use of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine remained stable in 2025, while daily energy drink use rose and heroin and cocaine use showed small increases.

Following an updated policy from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Joshua Feder, MD, explains why providers should present DRBIs and NDBIs as options for autism care.