Psychological research in children and adolescents in understudied populations: cross-syndrome comparison and cross-cultural research

Bhatnagar, Nikita (2021). Psychological research in children and adolescents in understudied populations: cross-syndrome comparison and cross-cultural research. University of Birmingham. Clin.Psy.D.

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Abstract

This thesis consists of an empirical research paper and a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis provides a comprehensive synthesis of the prevalence of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents in India. 21 studies were included in the final analysis with a combined sample size of 15,910 and the weighted average prevalence of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents in India was found to be 14%. This has implications in guiding appropriate policies and practices that effectively address the burden of anxiety disorders in this population.

The empirical research paper is a cross-sectional questionnaire study that describes the behavioural and psychological characteristics in Bardet-Biedl syndrome. A cross-syndrome comparison approach was used, and BBS was compared to idiopathic autism spectrum disorder as well as a control group of typically developing individuals. The study aimed to delineate the profile of ASD phenomenology in BBS and also determine whether there was an association between vision impairment and ASD characteristics in BBS.

This research found that ASD traits are prevalent in BBS and ASD presentation in this syndrome is likely to be characterised by deficits in social interaction and communication and that stereotyped behaviours do not contribute to the presentation of ASD-like characteristics in this group. Additionally, the study also found that a higher level of vision impairment was associated with more autism characteristics in BBS.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.

Supervisor(s):