PEERS, Developing an iPad-delivered social assessment tool for children and adolescents, NHMRC

Abstract

The aim of the PEERS (Paediatric evaluation of emotions relationships and socialization) will be the first clinically-validated, digital assessment tool available to psychologists, educators and health professionals to assess social cognition and social competence in children and adolescents, with future extension to adults.PEERS will facilitate early intervention and targeted treatment for children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders, depression, ADHD, learning and language difficulties and a range of other social, medical and psychiatric conditions. 75% of mental health problems occur before the age of 25 and mental illness contributes to nearly half of the burden of disease in young people.The PEERS project is led by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the largest not-for-profit child health research institute in Australia, in collaboration with an international team of clinicians and researchers from Canada, the UK and the US. Product design and software development has been undertaken by Melbourne-based software development and innovation company, Curve Tomorrow.