Anita Thapar
Biographic Data
| ID | 2182433 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Anita Thapar |
| GIVEN NAMES | Anita |
| FAMILY NAME | Thapar |
| SIGNATURE | THAPAR A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Cardiff University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3689-737X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 12 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Mapping phenotypic and genetic relationships among irritability, depression and ADHD in adolescence using network analysis
BACKGROUND: Irritability is a common reason for referral to child and adolescent mental health services. However, debate exists as to whether irritability is best conceptualised and treated as a feature of mood disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or a core symptom of ADHD. METHODS: We use network analyses to examine the relationships between adolescent irritability, headstrong/hurtful ODD items, depression and ADHD phenotypes, and polygenic s…
Commentary: Using QbTest for monitoring pharmacological treatment response in ADHD – are we there yet
Individuals with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit varied responses to pharmacological treatments (e.g. stimulants and non‐stimulants). Accurately and promptly detecting treatment‐related improvements, response failure, or deterioration poses significant challenges, as current monitoring primarily relies on subjective ratings. In this commentary, we critically evaluate the evidence supporting the use of QbTest for objectivel…
Practitioner Review: Clinical utility of the QbTest for the assessment and diagnosis of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder – a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Sex differences in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and clinical care: A national study of population healthcare records in Wales
BACKGROUND: Population-based studies have observed sex biases in the diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Females are less likely to be diagnosed or prescribed ADHD medication. This study uses national healthcare records, to investigate sex differences in diagnosis and clinical care in young people with ADHD, particularly regarding recognition and treatment of other mental health conditions. METHODS: The coh…
Stratifying early‐onset emotional disorders: Using genetics to assess persistence in young people of European and South Asian ancestry
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems in young people. Currently, clinicians are advised to wait before initiating treatment for young people with these disorders as many spontaneously remit. However, others develop recurrent disorder but this subgroup cannot be identified at the outset. We examined whether psychiatric polygenic scores (PGS) could help inform stratification efforts to predict those at highe…
Disentangling the influences of parental genetics on offspring's cognition, education, and psychopathology via genetic and phenotypic pathways
BACKGROUND: Specific pathways of intergenerational transmission of behavioral traits remain unclear. Here, we aim to investigate how parental genetics influence offspring cognition, educational attainment, and psychopathology in youth. METHODS: Participants for the discovery sample were 2,189 offspring (aged 6-14 years), 1898 mothers and 1,017 fathers who underwent genotyping, psychiatric, and cognitive assessments. We calculated polygenic scores…
Practitioner Review: Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder – the importance of depression
Young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), show high rates of mental health problems, of which depression is one of the most common. Given that depression in ASD and ADHD is linked with a range of poor outcomes, knowledge of how clinicians should assess, identify and treat depression in the context of these neurodevelopmental disorders is much needed.…
Co‐development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic trait trajectories from childhood to early adulthood
BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, defined as traits or disorders, commonly co-occur. Developmental trajectories of ADHD and autistic traits both show heterogeneity in onset and course, but little is known about how symptom trajectories co-develop into adulthood. METHODS: Using data from a population cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we examined correlations between ADHD and autistic…
Developing and validating a prediction model of adolescent major depressive disorder in the offspring of depressed parents
BACKGROUND: Parental depression is common and is a major risk factor for depression in adolescents. Early identification of adolescents at elevated risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD) in this group could improve early access to preventive interventions. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from 337 adolescents at high familial risk of depression, we developed a risk prediction model for adolescent MDD. The model was externally validate…
An agenda for future research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience
Young people who are currently or were previously in state care have consistently been found to have much higher rates of mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties than the general youth population. While a number of high-quality reviews highlight what research has been undertaken in relation to the mental health of young people with care experience and the gaps in our knowledge and understanding, there is, until now, no consensus, so far…
Depression in young people
ADHD and autism symptoms in youth: A network analysis
BACKGROUND: Previous research investigating the overlap between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (henceforth, autism) symptoms in population samples have relied on latent variable modeling in which averaged scores representing dimensions were derived from observed symptoms. There are no studies evaluating how ADHD and autism symptoms interact at the level of individual symptom items. METHODS: We aimed t…
The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder
BACKGROUND: Misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize affected people, reduce credibility of providers, and prevent/delay treatment. To challenge misconceptions, we curated findings with strong evidence base. METHODS: We reviewed studies with more than 2000 participants or meta-analyses from five or more studies or 2000 or more participants. We excluded meta-analyses that did not assess publication bias, except for meta-analyses of prevalence. For net…
Investigating attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder traits in the general population: What happens in adult life
BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are generally considered early-onset disorders so most research has therefore tended to focus on children. Differences between ADHD/ASD in adult life and childhood have been noted, but few population-based studies have examined them in adulthood. Furthermore, the interpretation of findings is hampered by changes in measure and from parent report to self…
Discovery of the first genome-wide significant risk loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable childhood behavioral disorder affecting 5% of children and 2.5% of adults. Common genetic variants contribute substantially to ADHD susceptibility, but no variants have been robustly associated with ADHD. We report a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 20,183 individuals diagnosed with ADHD and 35,191 controls that identifies variants surpassing genome-wide significance in…
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Rutter's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Depression in adolescence
Identifying early signs of aggression: Psychometric properties of the cardiff infant contentiousness scale
Our aim was to develop an age‐appropriate measure of early manifestations of aggression. We constructed a questionnaire about normative developmental milestones into which a set of items measuring infants' use of physical force against people and expressed anger were included. These items comprise the Cardiff Infant Contentiousness Scale (CICS). Evidence for the reliability and validity of the CICS is provided from analyses of a sample of N =310 …
Associations between maternal older age, family environment and parent and child wellbeing in families using assisted reproductive techniques to conceive
Maternal age effects on parenting and family outcomes are of increasing interest because of the demographic shift toward older maternal age at first birth. Maternal age is also of interest because of the greater use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to bypass age-related infertility in couples trying to conceive late in the reproductive life cycle of the woman. The aim of the present study was to investigate maternal age effects associate…
Parent–Child Relations, Conduct Problems and Cigarette Use in Adolescence: Examining the Role of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Patterns of Behavior
This study investigated genetic and environmental influences on the associations between mother–child relationship quality (warmth and hostility) and adolescent conduct problems and cigarette use. Participants included 601 mothers and adolescent twin pairs (aged 12–17 years). Mothers and adolescents provided separate reports of mother-to-child warmth and hostility. A combined measure of mother and adolescent reported conduct problems was used whi…
The development of a new site-specific measure of quality of life for breast problems: The Cardiff breast scales
Associations between maternal older age, family environment and parent and child wellbeing in families using assisted reproductive techniques to conceive
Maternal age effects on parenting and family outcomes are of increasing interest because of the demographic shift toward older maternal age at first birth. Maternal age is also of interest because of the greater use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to bypass age-related infertility in couples trying to conceive late in the reproductive life cycle of the woman. The aim of the present study was to investigate maternal age effects associate…
An agenda for future research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience
Young people who are currently or were previously in state care have consistently been found to have much higher rates of mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties than the general youth population. While a number of high-quality reviews highlight what research has been undertaken in relation to the mental health of young people with care experience and the gaps in our knowledge and understanding, there is, until now, no consensus, so far…
Identifying early signs of aggression: Psychometric properties of the cardiff infant contentiousness scale
Our aim was to develop an age‐appropriate measure of early manifestations of aggression. We constructed a questionnaire about normative developmental milestones into which a set of items measuring infants' use of physical force against people and expressed anger were included. These items comprise the Cardiff Infant Contentiousness Scale (CICS). Evidence for the reliability and validity of the CICS is provided from analyses of a sample of N =310 …
Parent–Child Relations, Conduct Problems and Cigarette Use in Adolescence: Examining the Role of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Patterns of Behavior
This study investigated genetic and environmental influences on the associations between mother–child relationship quality (warmth and hostility) and adolescent conduct problems and cigarette use. Participants included 601 mothers and adolescent twin pairs (aged 12–17 years). Mothers and adolescents provided separate reports of mother-to-child warmth and hostility. A combined measure of mother and adolescent reported conduct problems was used whi…
The development of a new site-specific measure of quality of life for breast problems: The Cardiff breast scales
Parent–Child Relations, Conduct Problems and Cigarette Use in Adolescence: Examining the Role of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Patterns of Behavior
This study investigated genetic and environmental influences on the associations between mother–child relationship quality (warmth and hostility) and adolescent conduct problems and cigarette use. Participants included 601 mothers and adolescent twin pairs (aged 12–17 years). Mothers and adolescents provided separate reports of mother-to-child warmth and hostility. A combined measure of mother and adolescent reported conduct problems was used whi…
Associations between maternal older age, family environment and parent and child wellbeing in families using assisted reproductive techniques to conceive
Maternal age effects on parenting and family outcomes are of increasing interest because of the demographic shift toward older maternal age at first birth. Maternal age is also of interest because of the greater use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to bypass age-related infertility in couples trying to conceive late in the reproductive life cycle of the woman. The aim of the present study was to investigate maternal age effects associate…
Identifying early signs of aggression: Psychometric properties of the cardiff infant contentiousness scale
Our aim was to develop an age‐appropriate measure of early manifestations of aggression. We constructed a questionnaire about normative developmental milestones into which a set of items measuring infants' use of physical force against people and expressed anger were included. These items comprise the Cardiff Infant Contentiousness Scale (CICS). Evidence for the reliability and validity of the CICS is provided from analyses of a sample of N =310 …
Depression in adolescence
Rutter's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Discovery of the first genome-wide significant risk loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable childhood behavioral disorder affecting 5% of children and 2.5% of adults. Common genetic variants contribute substantially to ADHD susceptibility, but no variants have been robustly associated with ADHD. We report a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 20,183 individuals diagnosed with ADHD and 35,191 controls that identifies variants surpassing genome-wide significance in…
The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder
BACKGROUND: Misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize affected people, reduce credibility of providers, and prevent/delay treatment. To challenge misconceptions, we curated findings with strong evidence base. METHODS: We reviewed studies with more than 2000 participants or meta-analyses from five or more studies or 2000 or more participants. We excluded meta-analyses that did not assess publication bias, except for meta-analyses of prevalence. For net…
Investigating attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder traits in the general population: What happens in adult life
BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are generally considered early-onset disorders so most research has therefore tended to focus on children. Differences between ADHD/ASD in adult life and childhood have been noted, but few population-based studies have examined them in adulthood. Furthermore, the interpretation of findings is hampered by changes in measure and from parent report to self…
Depression in young people
ADHD and autism symptoms in youth: A network analysis
BACKGROUND: Previous research investigating the overlap between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (henceforth, autism) symptoms in population samples have relied on latent variable modeling in which averaged scores representing dimensions were derived from observed symptoms. There are no studies evaluating how ADHD and autism symptoms interact at the level of individual symptom items. METHODS: We aimed t…
Disentangling the influences of parental genetics on offspring's cognition, education, and psychopathology via genetic and phenotypic pathways
BACKGROUND: Specific pathways of intergenerational transmission of behavioral traits remain unclear. Here, we aim to investigate how parental genetics influence offspring cognition, educational attainment, and psychopathology in youth. METHODS: Participants for the discovery sample were 2,189 offspring (aged 6-14 years), 1898 mothers and 1,017 fathers who underwent genotyping, psychiatric, and cognitive assessments. We calculated polygenic scores…
Practitioner Review: Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder – the importance of depression
Young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), show high rates of mental health problems, of which depression is one of the most common. Given that depression in ASD and ADHD is linked with a range of poor outcomes, knowledge of how clinicians should assess, identify and treat depression in the context of these neurodevelopmental disorders is much needed.…
Co‐development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic trait trajectories from childhood to early adulthood
BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, defined as traits or disorders, commonly co-occur. Developmental trajectories of ADHD and autistic traits both show heterogeneity in onset and course, but little is known about how symptom trajectories co-develop into adulthood. METHODS: Using data from a population cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we examined correlations between ADHD and autistic…
Developing and validating a prediction model of adolescent major depressive disorder in the offspring of depressed parents
BACKGROUND: Parental depression is common and is a major risk factor for depression in adolescents. Early identification of adolescents at elevated risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD) in this group could improve early access to preventive interventions. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from 337 adolescents at high familial risk of depression, we developed a risk prediction model for adolescent MDD. The model was externally validate…
An agenda for future research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience
Young people who are currently or were previously in state care have consistently been found to have much higher rates of mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties than the general youth population. While a number of high-quality reviews highlight what research has been undertaken in relation to the mental health of young people with care experience and the gaps in our knowledge and understanding, there is, until now, no consensus, so far…
Practitioner Review: Clinical utility of the QbTest for the assessment and diagnosis of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder – a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Sex differences in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and clinical care: A national study of population healthcare records in Wales
BACKGROUND: Population-based studies have observed sex biases in the diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Females are less likely to be diagnosed or prescribed ADHD medication. This study uses national healthcare records, to investigate sex differences in diagnosis and clinical care in young people with ADHD, particularly regarding recognition and treatment of other mental health conditions. METHODS: The coh…
Stratifying early‐onset emotional disorders: Using genetics to assess persistence in young people of European and South Asian ancestry
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems in young people. Currently, clinicians are advised to wait before initiating treatment for young people with these disorders as many spontaneously remit. However, others develop recurrent disorder but this subgroup cannot be identified at the outset. We examined whether psychiatric polygenic scores (PGS) could help inform stratification efforts to predict those at highe…
Commentary: Using QbTest for monitoring pharmacological treatment response in ADHD – are we there yet
Individuals with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit varied responses to pharmacological treatments (e.g. stimulants and non‐stimulants). Accurately and promptly detecting treatment‐related improvements, response failure, or deterioration poses significant challenges, as current monitoring primarily relies on subjective ratings. In this commentary, we critically evaluate the evidence supporting the use of QbTest for objectivel…
Mapping phenotypic and genetic relationships among irritability, depression and ADHD in adolescence using network analysis
BACKGROUND: Irritability is a common reason for referral to child and adolescent mental health services. However, debate exists as to whether irritability is best conceptualised and treated as a feature of mood disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or a core symptom of ADHD. METHODS: We use network analyses to examine the relationships between adolescent irritability, headstrong/hurtful ODD items, depression and ADHD phenotypes, and polygenic s…
Psychology (17 works) · Medicine (14 works) · Psychiatry (14 works) · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (12 works) · Clinical Psychology (11 works) · Developmental psychology (10 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (8 works) · Population (6 works) · Autism (5 works) · Depression (economics) (5 works)