Professor Francisco Musich
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Promoting Mental Health in Schools: Evidence-Based Strategies for a Stepped, Collaborative Approach
Recent research has highlighted the advantages of comprehensive school mental health (SMH) systems, particularly those organised around Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). MTSS provides a coherent structure integrating prevention, early intervention and intensive support to meet diverse student needs (Barrett et al., 2018) acknowledging the interdependence of academic outcomes, mental health and social-emotional development.
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Supporting Children and Young People with Complex Trauma Histories: Rethinking Readiness for Treatment
Children and young people who have experienced trauma often present with a range of emotional, behavioural, and relational difficulties. There is robust evidence that trauma-focused psychological therapies are effective for PTSD in children and adolescents. Nonetheless, clinicians sometimes hesitate to offer these approaches to young people whose circumstances are complicated—for example, those with ongoing instability, high levels of distress, suicide risk, or multiple comorbidities. Some are told they are ‘not ready’, or that therapy should wait until other difficulties are managed. However, current evidence suggests that complexities are not, in themselves, a reason to delay treatment.
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Children and Adolescents with Single and Multiple Traumas Response to PTSD Therapy: New Insights from a Major Meta-Analysis
A 2023 meta-analysis led by Hoppen and colleagues examined whether children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefit equally from psychological interventions, regardless of whether they have experienced a single traumatic event or multiple traumas (Hoppen et al., 2023).
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Insights from Two Decades of Statewide Data on the Diagnostic Rates among Autistic Females
A 2024 study by Harrop and colleagues reflects how the landscape of autism diagnosis for females has evolved. Drawing on more than 10,000 diagnostic records from the TEACCH Autism Program in North Carolina, spanning the years 2000 to 2021, the study reveals a steady increase in the proportion of females identified as autistic. While diagnostic pathways are becoming more inclusive, late recognition remains a concern, highlighting the ongoing need for approaches that acknowledge the diversity of autistic experience.
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Validation of a Mobile App for Remote Autism Screening in Toddlers
A 2025 multi-site study led by Dawson and colleagues evaluated a mobile app called “SenseToKnow,” designed for accessible, early autism screening in toddlers. The results suggest digital approaches as a promising way to make early identification more accessible, objective, and equitable for all families.
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Operationalizing the ICF Core Sets for Autism and ADHD: From Framework to Feasible Tool
Alehagen, Bölte, and colleagues conducted a feasibility study to develop and user-test an online platform for the ICF Core Sets for autism and ADHD. The study found that the platform was easy to use, acceptable to participants, and capable of capturing the diversity of functioning profiles, with iterative revisions addressing user feedback. The tool is now ready for psychometric validation.
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STEPS in the Community: Pilot Trial Offers Promising Pathways for Autistic Adults Transitioning to Independence
Up to 70,000 autistic teenagers enter adulthood in the US each year, yet many report feeling unprepared for the leap. The Stepped Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Success (STEPS) programme is a goal-oriented intervention designed to bridge this gap.
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