Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35144706›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2022

Anxiety and depression among children and young people involved in family justice court proceedings: longitudinal national data linkage study.

Lucy Jane Griffiths, Joanna Mcgregor, Theodora Pouliou, Rhodri D Johnson, Karen Broadhurst, Linda Cusworth, Laura North, David V Ford, Ann John

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Lucy Jane GriffithsPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9230-624X
Joanna McgregorPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.
Theodora PouliouPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.
Rhodri D JohnsonPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.
Karen BroadhurstCentre for Child & Family Justice Research, Lancaster University, UK.
Linda CusworthCentre for Child & Family Justice Research, Lancaster University, UK.
Laura NorthPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.
David V FordPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.
Ann JohnPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5657-6995
Swansea University · GBLancaster University · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_17211Medical Research Council Nuffield Family Justice Observatory MQ Mental Health Research Charity
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLittle is known about mental health problems of children and young people (CYP) involved with public and private law family court proceedings, and how these CYP fare compared to those not involved in these significant disruptions to family life.

aimsThis study examined records of depression/anxiety in CYP involved in public and private law proceedings using linked population-level data across Wales.

methodRetrospective e-cohort study. We calculated the incidence of primary-care-recorded depression/anxiety among CYP involved in these proceedings and in a comparison group, using Poisson regression. Depression/anxiety outcomes following proceedings were evaluated using pairwise Cox regression, with age- and gender-matched controls of CYP who had no involvement with the courts.

resultsCYP in the public group had twice the risk of depression (adjusted incidence rate ratio aIRR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.9-2.6) and 20% higher risk of anxiety (aIRR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.5) relative to the comparison group. The private group had 60% higher risk of depression (aIRR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.4-1.7) and 30% higher risk of anxiety (aIRR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.4). Following private law proceedings, CYP were more likely to have depression (hazard ratio HR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.7-2.1), and anxiety (HR = 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.6) than the control group. Following public proceedings, CYP were more likely to have depression (HR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.5). Incidence of anxiety or depression following court proceedings was around 4%.

conclusionsFindings highlight the vulnerability of CYP involved in family court proceedings and increased risk of depression and anxiety. Schools, health professionals, social and family support workers have a role to play in identifying needs and ensuring CYP receive appropriate support before, during and after proceedings.

Indexed as

administrative dataCare proceedingschildrendata linkagemental health

Identifiers

PMID35144706
PMCPMC8867894
OpenAlexW4211230975

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.