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  1. Fulltext Conditional Learning Deficits in Children with ADHD can be Reduced Through Reward Optimization and Response-Specific Reinforcement
    De Meyer H, Tripp G, Beckers T, van der Oord S
    Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol, 2021 09;49(9):1165-1178.
    PMID: 33792820 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00781-5
    When children with ADHD are presented with behavioral choices, they struggle more than Typically Developing [TD] children to take into account contextual information necessary for making adaptive choices. The challenge presented by this type of behavioral decision making can be operationalized as a Conditional Discrimination Learning [CDL] task. We previously showed that CDL is impaired in children with ADHD. The present study explores whether this impairment can be remediated by increasing reward for correct responding or by reinforcing correct conditional choice behavior with situationally specific outcomes (Differential Outcomes). An arbitrary Delayed Matching-To-Sample [aDMTS] procedure was used, in which children had to learn to select the correct response given the sample stimulus presented (CDL). We compared children with ADHD (N = 45) and TD children (N = 49) on a baseline aDMTS task and sequentially adapted the aDMTS task so that correct choice behavior was rewarded with a more potent reinforcer (reward manipulation) or with sample-specific (and hence response-specific) reinforcers (Differential Outcomes manipulation). At baseline, children with ADHD performed significantly worse than TD children. Both manipulations (reward optimization and Differential Outcomes) improved performance in the ADHD group, resulting in a similar level of performance to the TD group. Increasing the reward value or the response-specificity of reinforcement enhances Conditional Discrimination Learning in children with ADHD. These behavioral techniques may be effective in promoting the learning of adaptive behavioral choices in children with ADHD.
  2. Exploring the Lived Experiences of Iranian Adolescents Exhibiting Suicidal Behavior and Ideation
    Arbabi K, Yeh CJ, Sangkar PR
    Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol, 2025 Feb 10.
    PMID: 39928064 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-025-01295-0
    Suicide is a complex phenomenon influenced by various individual and contextual factors that may inform prevention efforts. This research is part of a comprehensive project conducted in the chain clinics of Iris Company (pseudonym) throughout Iran. 1). The objective of the study was to expand the current literature on adolescent suicidality by qualitatively exploring the lived experiences of adolescents with a history of at least one suicide attempt and suicidal ideation through in-depth semi-structured interviews. 2).

    PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 69 Iranian adolescents (38 females and 31 males) aged 15-19 years from diverse cultural and societal backgrounds across various regions of Iran. 3).

    RESULTS: Data were analyzed using the Colaizzi method of phenomenological analysis (Praveena & Sasikumar, 2021), resulting in six main themes and 14 sub-themes. The main themes were: (1) overwhelming emotional pain, (2) influence of traditional cultural values, (3) desire for stronger connections, (4) openness to treatment, (5) wish to improve life, and (6) feeling trapped in the present. 4).

    CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses gaps in prior research and aims to advance the understanding of adolescent suicide prevention. The authors emphasize the importance of family and relational contexts in understanding suicide risk among adolescents and highlight the roles of family therapy and peer support in developing prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk youth.

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