Addiction and related disorders
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Neuroanatomical Variability and Early Substance Use Initiation: Insights from the ABCD Study
Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, making it a sensitive window for experiences that may shape long-term outcomes. A new study from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) project examined whether neuroanatomical variability is linked to early initiation of alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis. Drawing on baseline brain images taken before substance use began, the researchers found regionally specific differences in cortical thickness and surface area among early initiators. The findings highlight the complexity of adolescent neurodevelopment and point to the value of large-scale, longitudinal studies in clarifying how brain structure and behaviour unfold together.
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Autumn Webinar programme
Don’t miss the early birds! All events are centred around evidence-based research, and our speakers are some of the leading lights in the field. ACAMH is a charity, and we receive no government funding, nor do we ask for donations.
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Substance use and the adolescent brain
Depending on the substance, they impact health in various ways, both in the short and long term, with some of the most profound effects occurring during adolescence.
- Event type
- Introductory and Update Session
- Location
- LIVE STREAM
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Professor Bernadka Dubicka – Editor in Chief
Editor in Chief, Bernadka qualified in medicine and psychology at the University of London, completing child psychiatry training and her thesis in adolescent depression at the University of Manchester. She is the chief investigator of the National Institute of Health Research multi-site BAY trial of web-based Behavioural Activation in young people with depression (2022-26).
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FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder): Understanding the Diagnosis
In this ‘In Conversation’ podcast, Sandra Butcher and Rachel Jackson provide insight into Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
In the United Kingdom, September is celebrated as FASD Awareness Month, with 9 September internationally recognised as International FASD Day.
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Therapeutic alliance in the treatment of adolescent substance misuse: a systematic review
Open Access paper from the CAMH journal – ‘Therapeutic alliance has been found to play an influential role in predicting outcomes for adults and adolescents in psychotherapy. However, thus far, the information concerning the impact of therapeutic alliance on outcomes for adolescents in treatment for substance misuse has not yet been critically synthesised’. Iniyah Sulaman et al.
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The genetics of gaming: A longitudinal twin study
Open Access paper from JCPP Advances – ‘We examined the genetic and environmental contribution to gaming behavior, including sex differences, continuity and change, in a longitudinal cohort of twins.’ Anders Nilsson (pic) et al.
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Annual Research Review: Emergence of problem gambling from childhood to emerging adulthood: a systematic review
Paper from the JCPP – “The risk for problematic gambling and associated high-risk behaviors is elevated during adolescence and emerging adulthood”. Jérémie Richard (pic) and Serena M. King.
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Do brain function abnormalities lead to substance use, or vice versa?
New research has, for the first time, investigated the direction of links between brain function and substance use throughout adolescence. Jungmeen Kim-Spoon and colleagues studied 167 adolescents who were assessed annually for four years from 13-14 years old.
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Does an internet gaming disorder prospectively predict psychiatric symptoms?
A minority of children and adolescents develop addiction-like engagement in gaming that is associated with impaired function.1 Preliminary data suggest that affected children with these symptoms, indicating an Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), might present with more symptoms of common psychiatric disorders than those without an IGD.
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