Professor Anita Thapar

Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences

: thapar@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2068 8478
: 3.07, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

: Media commentator
: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am a clinician scientist. My primary interests are in child neurodevelopmental disorders and depression. I was Lead Editor (Joint) of the 6th Edition of Rutter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-the leading textbook for clinicians and scientists.

I head the academic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and the developmental disorders group within the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Division. I also have honorary NHS consultant contracts with Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale UHBs.

My wider roles include:

Teaching/training of medical and psychology/biomedical students and trainee NHS clinicians

NHS liaison

Translation of our research into policy including Welsh Government Together for Children and Young Peoples Programme on child and adolescent mental health (neurodevelopmental and early help and enhanced support work streams).

I am also on the board of the UK national neurodiversity charity ADHD Foundation.

Education and Qualifications

1995: PhD University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
1989: MRCPsych, Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK
1985: MBBCh (Medicine), Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff

Career overview

Current posts:

1999 - present: Cardiff University School of Medicine. Clinical Professor
Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, University of Sussex
Honorary Professor, MRC Integrated Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol

Honours and awards

UK Professor of Psychiatry Club: Academic Women in Psychiatry Award (joint) for enhancing the careers of academic women in psychiatry 2017
Learned Society of Wales: Frances Hoggan Medal for outstanding research by women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine or Mathematics. 2017
Queen’s Honours: CBE for services to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2017
Presidents Medal 2015, Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK for contribution to policy, public knowledge, education and meeting population and patient care needs
Ruane Prize 2015, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, USA for outstanding Child & Adolescent Psychiatric research
Elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) 2011, UK
Elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales 2011, Wales
Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995, UK

Laughlin Prize 1989 Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK for highest marks and best recommendation in MRCPsych examinations
Maldwyn Catell Memorial Prize (Welsh Medical Council) awarded 1985 (medical school), Welsh National School of Medicine
Geraint Walters Prize in Haematology awarded 1985 (medical school), Welsh National School of Medicine

Professional memberships

Academy of Medical Sciences
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
UK Child and Adolescent Research Society

Academic positions

1996-1999: Senior Lecturer, Manchester University
1991-1995: MRC Clinical Research Fellow, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
1990-1995 (career break for children) Clinical training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
1986-1989 Clinical Training in Psychiatry
1985 Junior doctor posts in Medicine, Surgery

Committees and reviewing

Selected panels, advisory and editorial boards

Current

Together for Children and Young People Expert Reference Group - A Welsh Assembly Government and CAMHS multi- agency Programme Board to drive forward the development and implementation of service improvement plans.

Member of the American Psychiatric Association Review Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders [Intellectual Disability, Learning Disorders, Communication Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Motor Disorders, ADHD].

Associate Editor and member of the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Psychiatry

The Lancet Psychiatry Advisory Board

Previous selected

Member of consultation panel for the National Institute for Health’s Research Development of a Ten Year Strategy for Mental Health - Children and Young People.
Learned Society of Wales’ A1 Scrutiny Committee Panel
Corresponding Member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Wellcome Trust Public Health and Tropical Medicine Interview Committee Member
Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Sectional Committee
Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Academic Careers Committee
Wellcome Trust Cognitive and Higher Systems Funding Committee
Secretary and treasurer of the UK Child Psychiatry Research Society

2006

Thapar, A. and Rice, F. 2006. Twin studies in pediatric depression. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America 15(4), pp. 869-81. (10.1016/j.chc.2006.05.007)
Zammit, S.et al. 2006. Phenotypic variation between parent-offspring trios and non-trios in genetic studies of schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatric Research 40(7), pp. 622-626. (10.1016/j.jpsychires.2005.05.006)
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2006. The effect of birth-weight with genetic susceptibility on depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 15(7), pp. 383-391. (10.1007/s00787-006-0545-4)
Fowler, T. A.et al. 2006. Relationship between disabling fatigue and depression in children: Genetic study. British Journal of Psychiatry 189(3), pp. 247-253. (10.1192/bjp.bp.105.011379)
Thapar, A.et al. 2006. Refining the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder phenotype for molecular genetic studies. Molecular Psychiatry 11(8), pp. 714-20. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001831)
Rice, F.et al. 2006. Family conflict interacts with genetic liability in predicting childhood and adolescent depression. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 45(7), pp. 841-848. (10.1097/01.chi.0000219834.08602.44)
Thapar, A.et al. 2006. Predictors of antisocial behaviour in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 15(2), pp. 118-125. (10.1007/s00787-006-0511-1)
Thapar, A. 2006. Genetics and environment in ADHD. In: McCabe, J. et al. eds. Beyond Nature and Nurture in Psychiatry: Genes, the Environment and Their Interplay. European Foundation for Psychiatry at the Maudsley Abingdon: Informa Healthcare, pp. 79-86.

2005

Langley, K.et al. 2005. Maternal smoking during pregnancy as an environmental risk factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder behaviour. A review.. Minerva Pediatrica 57(6), pp. 359-371.
Langley, K.et al. 2005. No support for association between the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene and ADHD. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 139B(1), pp. 7-10. (10.1002/ajmg.b.30206)
Thapar, A.et al. 2005. Catechol O-methyltransferase gene variant and birth weight predict early-onset antisocial behavior in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry 62(11), pp. 1275-1278. (10.1001/archpsyc.62.11.1275)
Thapar, A., Roland, M. and Harold, G. T. 2005. Do depression symptoms predict seizure frequency--or vice versa?. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 59(5), pp. 269-274. (10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.04.001)
Thapar, A., O'Donovan, M. C. and Owen, M. J. 2005. The genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Human Molecular Genetics 14(2), pp. 275-282. (10.1093/hmg/ddi263)
Stevenson, J.et al. 2005. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities: preliminary genetic findings on the involvement of the ADRA2A gene. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 46(10), pp. 1081-1088. (10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01533.x)
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2005. The Link between depression in mothers and offspring: an extended twin analysis. Behavior Genetics 35(5), pp. 565-577. (10.1007/s10519-005-5432-0)
Ahuja, A., Thapar, A. and Owen, M. J. 2005. Genetics of mental retardation. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 59(9), pp. 407-417. (10.4103/0019-5359.16820)
Goody, A. J.et al. 2005. Twins born following fertility treatment: implications for quantitative genetic studies. Twin Research and Human Genetics 8(4), pp. 337-345. (10.1375/twin.8.4.337)
Fowler, T.et al. 2005. The definition of disabling fatigue in children and adolescents. BMC Family Practice 6, pp. 33. (10.1186/1471-2296-6-33)
Button, T. M., Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 2005. Relationship between antisocial behaviour, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and maternal prenatal smoking. British Journal of Psychiatry 187, pp. 155-160. (10.1192/bjp.187.2.155)
Turic, D.et al. 2005. A family based study implicates solute carrier family 1-member 3 (SLC1A3) gene in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Biological psychiatry 57(11), pp. 1461-1466. (10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.03.025)
Stevenson, J.et al. 2005. Characterizing the ADHD phenotype for genetic studies. Developmental Science 8(2), pp. 115-121. (10.1111/j.1467-7687.2005.00398.x)
Turic, D.et al. 2005. A family based study of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 133B(1), pp. 64-67. (10.1002/ajmg.b.30123)
Kent, L.et al. 2005. Association of the paternally transmitted copy of common Valine allele of the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene with susceptibility to ADHD. Molecular Psychiatry 10(10), pp. 939-943. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001696)

2004

Rice, F., van den Bree, M. B. and Thapar, A. 2004. A population-based study of anxiety as a precursor for depression in childhood and adolescence. BMC Psychiatry 4, article number: 43. (10.1186/1471-244X-4-43)
Fowler, T. A.et al. 2004. Early onset antisocial behaviour in children with ADHD is associated with a functional variant in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene [Abstract]. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 130B(1), pp. 98-98. (10.1002/ajmg.b.30101)
Rice, F.et al. 2004. A novel method for disentangling the effects of genes, intrauterine and environmental risk factors [Abstract]. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 130B(1), pp. 116-117. (10.1002/ajmg.b.30101)
Mills, S.et al. 2004. No evidence of association between Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val(158)Met genotype and performance on neuropsychological tasks in children with ADHD: A case-control study. BMC Psychiatry 4, pp. 15-15. (10.1186/1471-244X-4-15)
Farmer, A.et al. 2004. Prevalence of chronic disabling fatigue in children and adolescents. The British Journal of Psychiatry 184(6), pp. 477-481. (10.1192/bjp.184.6.477)
Turic, D.et al. 2004. Direct analysis of the genes encoding G proteins G alpha T2, G alpha o, G alpha Z in ADHD. American Journal of Medical Genetics 127B(1), pp. 68-72. (10.1002/ajmg.b.20173)
Lowe, N.et al. 2004. Joint Analysis of the DRD5 Marker Concludes Association with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Confined to the Predominantly Inattentive and Combined Subtypes. American Journal of Human Genetics 74(2), pp. 348-356. (10.1086/381561)
Langley, K.et al. 2004. Association of the dopamine D4 receptor gene 7-repeat allele with neuropsychological test performance of children with ADHD. American Journal of Psychiatry 161(1), pp. 133-138. (10.1176/appi.ajp.161.1.133)
Holmes, J.et al. 2004. The Child Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Teacher Telephone Interview (CHATTI): reliability and validity. British Journal of Psychiatry 184(1), pp. 74-78. (10.1192/bjp.184.1.74)
McGuffin, P. and Thapar, A. 2004. Postgenomic psychiatry: Great hopes or great hype?. Current Psychiatry Reports 6(2), pp. 75-76. (10.1007/s11920-004-0043-7)
Thapar, A. and Holmes, J. 2004. Genetics and juvenile antisocial behaviour. In: Bailey, S. and Dolan, M. eds. Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry., Vol. 1. London: Hodder Education, pp. 87-96.
Turic, D.et al. 2004. Follow-up of genetic linkage findings on chromosome 16p13: evidence of association of N-methyl-D aspartate glutamate receptor 2A gene polymorphism with ADHD. Molecular Psychiatry 9(2), pp. 169-173. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001387)

2003

Thapar, A.et al. 2003. A novel method for disentangling the effects of genes, intrauterine, and environmental risk factors [Abstract]. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 721-721. (10.1023/A:1026187215665)
Ivanov, D.et al. 2003. Chromosome 22q11 deletions, velo-cardio-facial syndrome and early-onset psychosis: Molecular genetic study. The British Journal of Psychiatry 183(5), pp. 409-413. (10.1192/bjp.183.5.409)
Thapar, A.et al. 2003. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in offspring. American Journal of Psychiatry 160(11), pp. 1985-1989. (10.1176/appi.ajp.160.11.1985)
Thapar, A.et al. 2003. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in offspring. American Journal of Psychiatry 160(11), pp. 1985-1989. (10.1176/appi.ajp.160.11.1985)
Button, T. and Thapar, A. 2003. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and antisocial outcomes in young people. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 699-699.
Rice, F.et al. 2003. Anxiety and depression in childhood and adolescence: Developmental pathways, genes, and environment. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 715-715.
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2003. The transmission of depressive symptoms from mother to child: Genetic and environmental pathways. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 716-716.
Scourfield, J.et al. 2003. Depressive symptoms in children and adolescents: Changing etiological influences with development. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 718-719.
Thapar, A.et al. 2003. ADHD children with and without the dopamine D4 receptor 7-repeat allele: Evidence of differences in performance on neuropsychological tests. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 721-721.
Thapar, A.et al. 2003. Maternal smoking in pregnancy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in offspring. Behavior Genetics 33(6), pp. 720-721.
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2003. Negative life events as an account of age-related differences in the genetic aetiology of depression in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 44(7), pp. 977-987. (10.1111/1469-7610.00182)
Scourfield, J.et al. 2003. Depressive symptoms in children and adolescents: changing aetiological influences with development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 44(7), pp. 968-976. (10.1111/1469-7610.00181)
Payton, A.et al. 2003. No evidence of association between HLA-DRB1 and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.. Psychiatric Genetics 13(3), pp. 183-185.
Williams, H. J.et al. 2003. Association between PRODH and schizophrenia is not confirmed. Molecular Psychiatry 8(7), pp. 644-645. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001276)
Langley, K.et al. 2003. No evidence of association of two 5HT transporter gene polymorphisms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric Genetics 13(2), pp. 107-110. (10.1097/01.ypg.0000056177.32550.a5)
Thapar, A. K. and Thapar, A. 2003. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.. British Journal of General Practice 53(488), pp. 225-230.
Lawson, D. C.et al. 2003. Association analysis of monoamine oxidase a and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics 116B(1), pp. 84-89. (10.1002/ajmg.b.10002)
Thapar, A. 2003. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: new genetic findings, new directions. In: Plomin, R. et al. eds. Behavioral Genetics in the Postgenomic Era. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pp. 445-462.

2002

Holmes, J.et al. 2002. A pilot twin study of psychological measures of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Behavior Genetics 32(6), pp. 389-395. (10.1023/A:1020846426166)
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2002. Assessing the effects of age, sex and shared environment on the genetic aetiology of depression in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 43(8), pp. 1039-1051. (10.1111/1469-7610.00231)
Barkley, R. A.et al. 2002. International consensus statement on ADHD. January 2002. [Comment]. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 5(2), pp. 89-111.
Thapar, A. 2002. Genes and environment in ADHD. European Psychiatry 17, pp. 30S-30S.
Thapar, A. K. and Thapar, A. 2002. Is primary care ready to take on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?. BMC Family Practice 3, pp. 7-7. (10.1186/1471-2296-3-7)
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2002. The genetic aetiology of childhood depression: a review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 43(1), pp. 65-79. (10.1111/1469-7610.00004)
Thapar, A. and Scourfield, J. 2002. Childhood disorders. In: McGuffin, P., Owen, M. J. and Gottesman, I. I. eds. Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics. Oxford Medical Publications Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 147-181.
Thapar, A. and Clayton-Smith, J. 2002. Genetics of mental retardation. In: McGuffin, P., Owen, M. J. and Gottesman, I. I. eds. Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics. Oxford Medical Publications Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 113-128.
McGuffin, P., Moffitt, T. and Thapar, A. 2002. Personality disorders. In: McGuffin, P., Owen, M. J. and Gottesman, I. I. eds. Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics. Oxford Medical Publications Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 183-210.
Thapar, A. and O'Donovan, M. C. 2002. Neurogenetics. In: D'haenen, H., den Boer, J. A. and Willner, P. eds. Biological Psychiatry. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 167-180., (10.1002/0470854871.chxii)
West, A.et al. 2002. Evidence to suggest biased phenotypes in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder from completely ascertained trios. Molecular Psychiatry 7(9), pp. 962-966. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001129)
Holmes, J.et al. 2002. Association of DRD4 in children with ADHD and comorbid conduct problems. American Journal of Medical Genetics 114(2), pp. 150-153. (10.1002/ajmg.10149)
Hawi, Z.et al. 2002. Serotonergic system and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a potential susceptibility locus at the 5-HT(1B) receptor gene in 273 nuclear families from a multi-centre sample. Molecular Psychiatry 7(7), pp. 718-725. (10.1038/sj.mp.4001048)

2001

Payton, A.et al. 2001. Susceptibility genes for a trait measure of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a pilot study in a non-clinical sample of twins. Psychiatry Research 105(3), pp. 273 -278. (10.1016/S0165-1781(01)00342-0)
Rice, F., Harold, G. T. and Thapar, A. 2001. Extreme depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Behavior Genetics 31(5), pp. 467-467., article number: PMID: 15641870.
2001. Evidence of association between DRD4 and ADHD with conduct disturbance. Presented at: Behavior Genetics Association Meeting, Cambridge, 11 July 2001 Presented at Thapar, A. et al. eds.Behavior Genetics, Vol. 31. Behavior Genetics Association Meeting Abstracts Vol. 5. Springer Verlag pp. 470-471.
Thapar, A., Harrington, R. and McGuffin, P. 2001. Examining the comorbidity of ADHD related behaviours and conduct problems using a twin study design. British Journal of Psychiatry 179(3), pp. 224-229. (10.1192/bjp.179.3.224)
Payton, A.et al. 2001. Examining for association between candidate gene polymorphisms in the dopamine pathway and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a family-based study. Neuroscience Letters 105(5), pp. 464-470. (10.1002/ajmg.1407)
Thapar, A. and Holmes, J. 2001. Genes really do matter. The Psychologist 14(3), pp. 146-147.
Kent, L.et al. 2001. No association between CHRNA7 microsatellite markers and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics 105(8), pp. 686-689. (10.1002/ajmg.1553)

2000

Thapar, A.et al. 2000. Does the definition of ADHD affect heritability?. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 39(12), pp. 1528-1536. (10.1097/00004583-200012000-00015)
Holmes, J.et al. 2000. A family-based and case-control association study of the dopamine D4 receptor gene and dopamine transporter gene in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 5(5), pp. 523-530. (10.1038/sj.mp.4000751)
Kent, L.et al. 2000. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor 7 subunit gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.. American Journal of Medical Genetics 96(4), pp. 490-490.
Payton, A.et al. 2000. A family based candidate gene association study of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics 96(4), pp. 489-489.
Thapar, A., Harrington, R. and McGuffin, P. 2000. Examining the genetic basis of ADHD related behaviours and conduct problems. American Journal of Medical Genetics 96(4), pp. 470-470.

1999

Thapar, A., Harrington, R. and McGuffin, P. 1999. Examining the comorbidity of ADHD-related behaviours and conduct problems using a twin study design. Br J Psych 2001(Sept), pp. 179:224-229., article number: 11532799. (10.1016/j.neulet.2007.12.003)
Thapar, A. and Barrett, J. 1999. Thapar and barrett reply. Molecular Psychiatry 4(5), pp. 413-414. (10.1038/sj.mp.4000596)
Thapar, A. and Barrett, J. 1999. Sampling and analytic considerations in molecular genetics studies of ADHD. The advantages of predicting phenotype from genotype in ADHD research - Thapar and Barrett reply. Molecular Psychiatry 4(5), pp. 413-414.
Thapar, A.et al. 1999. Defining attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A genetic perspective.. Molecular Psychiatry 4, pp. S52-S52.
Thapar, A.et al. 1999. A quantitative trait loci study of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 4, pp. S52-S53.
Thapar, A.et al. 1999. Genetic basis of attention deficit and hyperactivity. British Journal of Psychiatry 174, pp. 105-111. (10.1192/bjp.174.2.105)

1998

Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1998. Validity of the shortened Mood and Feelings Questionnaire in a community sample of children and adolescents: a preliminary research note. Psychiatry Research 81(2), pp. 259-268. (10.1016/S0165-1781(98)00073-0)
Poulton, K.et al. 1998. A molecular genetic study of hyperkinetic disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics 81(6), pp. 458-458.
Thapar, A., Harold, G. T. and McGuffin, P. 1998. Life events and depressive symptoms in childhood--shared genes or shared adversity? A research note.. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 39(8), pp. 1153-1158. (10.1111/1469-7610.00419)
Thapar, A. 1998. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: unravelling the molecular genetics. Molecular Psychiatry 3(5), pp. 370-372. (10.1038/sj.mp.4000452)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1998. A twin study of depressive symptoms in childhood. British Journal of Psychiatry 165(2), pp. 259-265. (10.1192/bjp.165.2.259)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1998. Genetics and learning disability. In: Kerr, M. P. ed. Innovations in Health Care for People with Intellectual Disabilites. Lisieux Hall Publications
Thapar, A. 1998. Behavioural phenotypes. Psychological Medicine 28(2), pp. 493-494.
McGuffin, P. and Thapar, A. 1998. Genetics and Antisocial Personality Disorder. In: Millon, T. et al. eds. Psychopathy: Antisocial, Criminal and Violent Behavior. New York: The Guilford Press, pp. 215-230.

1997

Scourfield, J., McGuffin, P. and Thapar, A. 1997. Genes and social skills. Bioessays 19(12), pp. 1125-1127. (10.1002/bies.950191212)
Thapar, A., Harrington, R. and McGuffin, P. 1997. A genetic study of hyperactivity and related traits. American Journal of Medical Genetics 74(6), pp. 571-572.
Bond, L.et al. 1997. Attitudes of general practitioners towards health care for people with intellectual disability and the factors underlying these attitudes. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 41(5), pp. 391-400. (10.1111/j.1365-2788.1997.tb00726.x)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1997. Anxiety and depressive symptoms in childhood--a genetic study of comorbidity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 38(6), pp. 651-656. (10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01692.x)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1997. Anxiety and depressive symptoms in childhood - a genetic study of comorbidity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 38(6), pp. 651-656. (10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01692)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1997. Genetic basis of bad behaviour in adolescents. The Lancet 350(9075), pp. 411-412. (10.1016/S0140-6736(05)64134-7)

1996

Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1996. A twin study of antisocial and neurotic symptoms in childhood. Psychological Medicine 26(6), pp. 1111-1118. (10.1017/S0033291700035832)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1996. The genetic etiology of childhood depressive symptoms: A developmental perspective. Development and Psychopathology 8(4), pp. 751-760.
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1996. Genetic influences on life events in childhood. Psychological Medicine 26(4), pp. 813-820. (10.1017/S0033291700037831)
Kerr, M. . P., Dunstan, F. D. J. and Thapar, A. 1996. Attitudes of general practitioners to caring for people with learning disability. British Journal of General Practice 46(403), pp. 92-94.

1995

Thapar, A., Hervas, A. and McGuffin, P. 1995. Childhood hyperactivity scores are highly heritable and show sibling competition effects: twin study evidence. Behavior Genetics 25(6), pp. 537-544. (10.1007/BF02327577)
Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1995. Are anxiety symptoms in childhood heritable?. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 36(3), pp. 439-447. (10.1111/j.1469-7610.1995.tb01301.x)

1994

Thapar, A.et al. 1994. The genetics of mental retardation. The British Journal of Psychiatry 164(6), pp. 747. (10.1192/bjp.164.6.747)
McGuffin, P.et al. Freeman, H. et al. eds. 1994. Seminars in Psychiatric Genetics. Gaskell, Royal College of Psychiatrists.

1993

Thapar, A. and McGuffin, P. 1993. Is personality-disorder inherited - an overview of the evidence. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 15(4), pp. 325-345. (10.1007/BF00965036)
McGuffin, P. and Thapar, A. 1993. The genetics of personality disorder. In: Tyrer, P. and Stein, G. eds. Personality Disorder Reviewed. London: Gaskell, Royal College of Psychiatrists

1992

Thapar, A.et al. 1992. Treatment of childhood encopresis - a review. Child: Care, Health and Development 18(6), pp. 343-353. (10.1111/j.1365-2214.1992.tb00364.x)
Thapar, A. K. and Thapar, A. 1992. Psychological sequelae of miscarriage: a controlled study using the general health questionnaire and the hospital anxiety and depression scale.. British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) 42(356), pp. 94-96.
McGuffin, P. and Thapar, A. 1992. The genetics of personality disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry 160(1), pp. 12-23. (10.1192/bjp.160.1.12)

1991

Thapar, A. and Ghosh, A. 1991. Non-attendance at a psychiatric clinic. British Journal of Psychiatry Bulletin 15(4), pp. 205-206. (10.1192/pb.15.4.205)

1989

Thapar, A. 1989. Psychiatric disorder in the medical profession.. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 42(6), pp. 480-483.

Undergraduate teaching

Academic mentor for undergraduates
Lecture and examining: intercalated BSc Psychology

Overview of current research

My research focuses on adolescent depression, ADHD and additional neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism spectrum disorder) from 0 to 25 years.

My mission is to address questions that have clinical relevance.

Currently funded research projects

Wolfson Centre for Youth Mental Health: £10 million.
Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award: What happens to children with neurodevelopmental disorders when they grow up and why? £875,937
Medical Research Council: Early-onset depression: characterising development and identifying risks £751,680.21
Economic and Social Research Council: Psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: Identifying mental health problems and supporting wellbeing in vulnerable children and families £410,210
Waterloo Foundation Trust: Neurodevelopmental Disorders Assessment Unit £160,458
MRC: The mental health and wellbeing of youth in care and care-leavers: Development of a national collaborative research agenda £91,356.13
MRC Mental Health Data Pathfinder: Integrating genetic, clinical and phenotypic data to advance stratification, prediction and treatment in mental health £971,676
MQ: Adolescent Data Platform, £799, 963 (led at Swansea)
MRC Mental Health Data Pathfinder: MytHICAL- Mental Health Informatics in Children, Adolescents and young adults. How do my feelings become numbers? £708,219

Overseas named and costed collaborations:

NIMH for research on irritability and anxiety (Wellcome Trust with Leibenluft, Pine and Brotman)

Karolinksa Institutet (Rosenquist): Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare (Stockholm) using genetically informative study designs to assess causal early life risks for neurodevelopmental disorders £399,000

Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Havdahl and Reichborn-Knerrud): Understanding development of mental health problems in the population utilizing large-scale health data and novel molecular genetic methods 9949000 NOK

Key review papers

Thapar A, Collishaw S, Pine DS, Thapar AK. (2012). Depression in adolescence. Lancet. 379(9820):1056-67T
Thapar A, Rutter M, (2019) Do natural experiments have an important future in the study of mental disorders? Psychological Medicine4:1-10
Thapar A, (2018) Discoveries on the Genetics of ADHD in the 21st Century: New Findings and Their Implications American Journal of Psychiatry 1;175(10):943-950
Thapar A, Cooper M, Rutter M (2017) Neurodevelopmental disorders, Lancet Psychiatry 4(4):339-346.

Selected original papers

Riglin L, Eyre O, Thapar AK, Stringaris A, Leibenluft E, Pine D, Tilling K, Davey Smith G, O’Donovan MC, Thapar A, (2019) Identifying novel types of irritability using a developmental genetic approach. American Journal of Psychiatry, Jul 1; 176(8): 635–642

Riglin L, Leppert B, Dardani C, Thapar AK, Rice F, O'Donovan MC, Davey Smith G, Stergiakouli E, Tilling K, Thapar A. (2020) ADHD and depression: investigating a causal explanation. Psychol Med. 6:1-8. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720000665. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32249726.

Eyre O., Hughes R.A., Thapar A.K., Leibenluft E., Stringaris A., Davey Smith G., Stergiakouli E., Collishaw S., Thapar A., (2019) Childhood neurodevelopmental difficulties and risk for adolescent depression: the role of irritability Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry [Epub ahead of print]

Rice, F., Riglin, L., Thapar, A.K., Heron, J., Anney, R., O’Donovan, M.C., Thapar, A. (2018) Characterizing Developmental Trajectories and the Role of Neuropsychiatric Genetic Risk Variants in Early-Onset Depression. JAMA Psychiatry 76(3): 306-313
Riglin L, Collishaw S, Richards A, Thapar AK, Maughan B, O’Donovan M.C., Thapar A (2017) Schizophrenia risk alleles and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood: a population-based cohort study, Lancet Psychiatry 4(1):57-62.
Rice F, Sellers R, Hammerton G, Eyre O, Bevan-Jones R, Thapar AK, Collishaw S, Harold G, Thapar A, (2016) Antecedents of new-onset major depressive disorder in adolescence: a longitudinal familial high-risk study JAMA Psychiatry
Riglin, L., Collishaw, S., Thapar, AK., Dalsgaard, S., Langley, K., Davey Smith, G., Stergiakouli , E., Maughan, B., O’Donovan, M. & Thapar, A. Association of genetic risk variants with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder trajectories in the general population. JAMA Psychiatry. 1;73(12):1285-1292
Collishaw S, Hammerton G, Mahedy L, Sellers R, Owen MJ, Craddock N, Thapar AK, Harold GT, Rice F, Thapar A (2016) Mental health resilience in the adolescent offspring of parents with depression: a prospective longitudinal study; Lancet Psychiatry, 3(1):49-57

Williams NM, Zaharieva I, Martin A, Langley K, Mantripragada K, Fossdal R, Steffansson H, Stefansson K, Magnssuon P, Gudmundsson OO, Gustafsson O, Holmans P, Owen MJ, O’Donovan MC, Thapar A. (2010). Rare chromosomal deletions and duplications in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a genome-wide analysis. Lancet. 376(9750): 1401-1408.

Thapar A, Rice F, Hay D, Boivin J, Langley K, Van den Bree MB, Rutter M, Harold G.(2009) Prenatal smoking might not cause ADHD: evidence from a novel design. Biological Psychiatry. 66(8): 722-727.

Rice F, Harold GT, Boivin J, Hay D, Van den Bree MB, Thapar A. (2009) Disentangling prenatal and inherited influences in humans with an experimental design. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. USA, 106 (7): 2464-2467.

Selected previous projects

Sir Jules Thorn Medical Trust Programme Grant. Predicting and preventing adolescent depression. Lead applicant. £993,393.
Wellcome Trust Programme Grant. Identifying susceptibility genes for ADHD with antisocial behaviour as a covariate. Lead applicant
Wellcome Trust Project grant. Disentangling genetic, intrauterine and environmental influences on childhood psychopathology using a novel method. Lead applicant

Wellcome Trust Project Grant. Depression at 17: ALSPAC. Co-applicant.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project grant. Family and genetic influences on children's psychological development.

Child and adolescent/youth mental health from 0 to 25 years

Epidemiology/genetics

Past projects

PhD Students and destinations

Olga Eyre. Awarded 2019. Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship - Chronic Irritability in ADHD: Examining the clinical and genetic links with depression. Welsh Clinical Academic Trainee.

Sharifah Syed. Awarded 2018 NHS staff. Part time PhD. Exploring associations between parental psychopathology and markers of severity in children with ADHD. Honorary Lecturer.

Rhys Bevan Jones 2016 Clinical NIHR Fellowship Developing and evaluating an online psycho-education package for adolescent depression. Awarded NIHR post-doc clinical fellowship.

Gemma Hammerton 2016 Explaining risk for suicidal ideation in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol. Awarded Sir Henry Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship. At Bristol University.

Joanna Martin. 2015. Genetics of ADHD and ASD related traits. Awarded Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cardiff University

Miriam Cooper. 2014, An imaging study of ADHD and autism. NHS Consultant Neurodevelopmental Service, Cwm Taf University Health Board.

Ruth Sellers. 2013 Antisocial behaviour in the offspring of depressed parents. ESRC Young Leaders Post Doctoral Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer. University of Sussex

Becky Mars. 2013 A longitudinal family study of depression. Post Doctoral Fellowship. University of Bristol

Gemma Lewis. 2012. Gene-environment interplay in depression. Postdoctoral researcher at UCL.

Evie Stergiakouli 2011 Genetics of Sex Differences in neurodevelopmental disorders – study of the Y chromosome. Lecturer, University of Bristol

Kate Lifford 2009. ESRC/MRC PhD studentship awardee. Gene-environment interplay and ADHD. Post Doc Research Associate, Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University

Kate Langley 2004 ADHD. Wellcome Trust VIP Awardee. Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

Tom Fowler 2003 Chronic Fatigue, Deputy Chief Scientist, Chief of Public Health. Genomics England

Frances Rice 2002 Adolescent Depression. Reader, Cardiff University

Research translation to Policy and Practice

2020 – 2022 Government Policy: Member of Welsh Health Collaborative’s Together for Children and Young People T4CYP (2) Neurodevelopmental Steering Group; Neurodiversity advisory panel; Early Help and Enhanced Support Work Stream

2020 – 2025 Board member for UK Patient Charity: ADHD Foundation

2021 – 2026 Member of European ADHD Guidelines Group (EAGG)

2016 Member of consultation panel for the National Institute for Health’s Research Development of a Ten Year Strategy f for Mental Health - Children and Young People.

2015 - 2019 Expert Reference Group member of Together for Children and Young People Expert Reference Group - A Welsh Assembly Government and CAMHS multi- agency Programme Board to drive forward the development and implementation of child and adolescent mental health service improvement plans in Wales

Other panel memberships and boards

Ruane Prize Committee, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation USA

The Lancet Psychiatry Journal Advisory Board

Associate Editor American Journal of Psychiatry

Member of the American Psychiatric Association Review Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders [Intellectual Disability, Learning Disorders, Communication Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Motor Disorders, ADHD].

Public engagement

We have a track record of working with the media on child and adolescent mental health, especially around ADHD.

I have worked with the Cardiff University Public engagement team (e.g. Cardiff Challenge), the UK Science Media Centre, contributed to and participated in television (a BBC Wales documentary, Breakfast TV and news items), radio (Radio 4 Today programme, national and local radio stations) on ADHD and adolescent depression.

National and international web podcasts and films on ADHD include:

Challenge Cardiff interview

ADHD Facts and Fiction (public lecture)

Last Chance Saloon (short film/documentary)

Ruane Prize winner (short film)

Professor Anita Thapar

Overview

Biography

Education and Qualifications

Career overview

Honours and awards

Professional memberships

Academic positions

Committees and reviewing

Selected panels, advisory and editorial boards

Publications

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Articles

Books

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Teaching

Undergraduate teaching

Overview of current research

Currently funded research projects

Selected previous projects

Supervision

Past projects

Engagement

Public engagement

Areas of expertise

Related news

Discovery of the first common genetic risk factors for ADHD

Cardiff academics celebrated with awards

External profiles