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Jayaweera K, Craig JM, Zavos HMS, Abeysinghe N, De Alwis S, Andras A, Dissanayake L, Dziedzic K, Fernando B, Glozier N, Hewamalage A, Ives J, Jordan KP, Kodituwakku G, Mallen C, Rahman O, Zafar S, Saxena A, Rijsdijk F, Saffery R, Simonoff E, Yusuf R, Sumathipala A. Protocol for establishing a child and adolescent twin register for mental health research and capacity building in Sri Lanka and other low and middle-income countries in South Asia. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e029332. [PMID: 31619420 PMCID: PMC6797400 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Worldwide, 10%-20% of children and adolescents experience mental health conditions. However, most such disorders remain undiagnosed until adolescence or adulthood. Little is known about the factors that influence mental health in children and adolescents, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), where environmental threats, such as poverty and war, may affect optimal neurodevelopment. Cohort studies provide important information on risks and resilience across the life course by enabling tracking of the effects of early life environment on health during childhood and beyond. Large birth cohort studies, including twin cohorts that can be aetiologically informative, have been conducted within high-income countries but are not generalisable to LMIC. There are limited longitudinal birth cohort studies in LMIC. METHODS We sought to enhance the volume of impactful research in Sri Lanka by establishing a Centre of Excellence for cohort studies. The aim is to establish a register of infant, child and adolescent twins, including mothers pregnant with twins, starting in the districts of Colombo (Western Province) and Vavuniya (Northern Province). We will gain consent from twins or parents for future research projects. This register will provide the platform to investigate the aetiology of mental illness and the impact of challenges to early brain development on future mental health. Using this register, we will be able to conduct research that will (1) expand existing research capacity on child and adolescent mental health and twin methods; (2) further consolidate existing partnerships and (3) establish new collaborations. The initiative is underpinned by three pillars: high-quality research, ethics, and patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of Sri Lanka Medical Association and Keele University's Ethical Review Panel. In addition to journal publications, a range of PPIE activities have been conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushalya Jayaweera
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Jeffrey M Craig
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helena M S Zavos
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nihal Abeysinghe
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Sunil De Alwis
- Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Alina Andras
- Research Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Lasith Dissanayake
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Krysia Dziedzic
- Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre, Stoke on Trent, UK
| | - Buddhika Fernando
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Research Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Glozier
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Asiri Hewamalage
- Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Jonathan Ives
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kelvin P Jordan
- Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Godwin Kodituwakku
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Christian Mallen
- Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Omar Rahman
- Public Health, Independent University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shamsa Zafar
- Centre of Excellence in MNCH, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Alka Saxena
- Genomic Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Fruhling Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Saffery
- Cancer and Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emily Simonoff
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rita Yusuf
- School of Life Sciences, Independent University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Athula Sumathipala
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Research Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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