Newcastle University

Research Interests

My research focusses on children with disabilities and their families. Several projects evaluate approaches to intervention for children, and develop appropriate outcome measures. I am also concerned to understand what underpins behaviours: for example, how parent-child interaction can develop communication skills; and neuropsychological processes linked to repetitive behaviours and anxiety in ASD. (see Autism research website www.ncl.ac.uk/cargo-ne/)

Other Expertise

I have a long-standing research and training link with a network of child development centres in Bangladesh.
I direct Daslne: the database of children with ASD living in the North East of England (www.ncl.ac.uk/daslne)

Funding

Current funding

Intervention for social attention in autism. Nuffield Foundation New Career Development Fellowship, 2009-2011 (Dr Sue Fletcher-Watson), £169,024

Effective therapy for anxiety in young people with autism spectrum disorder. NIHR, Research for Patient Benefit programme, July 2009 - May 2011, £228,857

Sensitive measurement of outcome of intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder. Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust, March 2009. £19,783

Maximising the research potential of Daslne. Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust, June 2008. £19,586

Scales and procedures for estimating the prevalence of childhood disability and autism in Bangladesh. Autism Speaks, July 2008. (Lead applicant: Professor Naila Khan) $59,966

Parents and professionals attitudes to dietary interventions in ASD (PADIA) $100,000 Autism Speaks, Sept 2008 (Lead applicant: Professor Ann Le Couteur)

The development of repetitive behaviours in young children. ESRC, September 2007, £46,402 (Lead applicant: Dr Sue Leekam, Durham University).

Improving children’s survival through development of quality child development and neurodisability services. British Council, July 2006. £102,000. (lead applicant: Professor Naila Khan, Bangladesh, with Professor Brian Neville, Dr Mahmood Chowdhury).

Preschool Autism Communication Trial. £1,204,538 (NHS costs £517,704)
Medical Research Council, Department for Education and Skills, 2005-9 (lead applicant: Prof Jonathan Green, University of Manchester; London PI Prof Tony Charman; Newcastle PI Prof Helen McConachie £289,945)

Establishing a registry of children with autistic spectrum disorder in Northeast England. Northern Rock Foundation, 2002-9; six local authorities ongoing £176,461 (with Professors Ann Le Couteur and Allan Colver)

• Maskey M, Warnell F, Parr J, LeCouteur A, McConachie H. Emotional and Behavioural Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Garralda ME, McConachie H, LeCouteur A, Sriranjan S, Chakrabarti I, Guglieri M, Cirak S, Bushby K, Muntoni F. Emotional impact of genetic trials in progressive paediatric disorders: a dose-ranging exon-skipping trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Child: Care, Health and Development 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Tavernor L, Barron E, Rodgers J, McConachie H. Finding out what matters: Validity of quality of life measurement in young people with ASD. Child: Care, Health and Development 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• McConachie H, McLaughlin E, Grahame V, Taylor H, Honey E, Tavernor L, Rodgers J, Freeston M, Hemm C, Steen N, Le Couteur A. Group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism 2013. In Press.
• Pickles A, Parr JR, Rutter ML, De Jonge MV, Wallace S, Le Couteur AS, van Engeland H, Wittemayer K, McConachie H, Roge B, Mantolan C, Pedersen L, Isager T, Poustka F, Bolte P, Bolton P, Weisblatt E, Green J, Papanikolauo K, Bailey AJ. New Interview and Observation Measures of the Broader Autism Phenotype: Impressions of Interviewee Measure. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Oono IP, Honey EJ, McConachie H. Parent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, (4), 1-82.
• Khan NZ, Muslima H, Begum A, Begum D, Akhtar S, Parveen M, Ferdous S, McConachie H, Darmstadt GL. Validation of a home-based neurodevelopmental screening tool for under 2-year-old children in Bangladesh. Child: Care, Health and Development 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Khan NZ, Muslima H, Shilpi AB, Begum D, Parveen M, Akter N, Ferdous S, Nahar K, McConachie H, Darmstadt GL. Validation of Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment for 2-to 5-Year-Old Children in Bangladesh. Pediatrics 2013, 131(2), e486-e494.
• Casey J, Maqalhaes T, Conroy J, Regan R, et al. A novel approach of homozygous haplotype sharing identifies candidate genes in autism spectrum disorder. Human Genetics 2012, 131(4), 565-579.
• Aldred CR, Green J, Emsley R, McConachie H. Brief report: Mediation of treatment effect in a communication intervention for pre-school children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2012, 42(3), 447-454.
• Honey E, Rodgers J, McConachie H. Measurement of restricted and repetitive behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder: Selecting a questionnaire or interview. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2012, 6(2), 757-776.
• McConachie H. Pioneers of service development for children with intellectual disability. Child: Care, Health and Development 2012, 38(6), 761-762.
• Wigham S, McConachie H, Tandos J, LeCouteur A, Gateshead Millennium Study core team. The reliability and validity of the Social Responsiveness Scale in a UK general child population. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2012, 33(3), 944-950.
• Rodgers J, Glod M, Connolly B, McConachie H. Ther relationship between anxiety and repetitive behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2012, 42(11), 2404-2409.
• Iao LS, Leekam S, Perner J, McConachie H. Further Evidence for Nonspecificity of Theory of Mind in Preschoolers: Training and Transferability in the Understanding of False Beliefs and False Signs. Journal of Cognition and Development 2011, 12(1), 56-79.
• Anney RJ, Kenny EM, ODushlaine C, Yaspan BL, Parkhomenka E, Buxbaum JD, Sutcliffe J, Gill M, Gallagher L, Bailey AJ, Fernandez BA, Szatmari P, Scherer SW, Patterson A, Marshall CR, Pinto D, Vincent JB, Fombonne E, Betancur C, Delorme R, Leboyer M, Bourgeron T, Mantoulan C, Roge B, Tauber M, Freitag CM, Poustka F, Duketis E, Klauck SM, Poustka A, Papanikolaou K, Tsiantis J, Gallagher L, Gill M, Anney R, Bolshakova N, Brennan S, Hughes G, McGrath J, Merikangas A, Ennis S, Green A, Casey JP, Conroy JM, Regan R, Shah N, Maestrini E, Bacchelli E, Minopoli F, Stoppioni V, Battaglia A, Igliozzi R, Parrini B, Tancredi R, Oliveira G, Almeida J, Duque F, Vicente A, Correia C, Magalhaes TR, Gillberg C, Nygren G, Jonge MD, VanEngeland H, Vorstman JA, Wittemeyer K, Baird G, Bolton PF, Rutter ML, Green J, Lamb JA, Pickles A, Parr JR, Couteur AL, Berney T, McConachie H, Wallace S, Coutanche M, Foley S, White K, Monaco AP, Holt R, Farrar P, Pagnamenta AT, Mirza GK, Ragoussis J, Sousa I, Sykes N, Wing K, Hallmayer J, Cantor RM, Nelson SF, Geschwind DH, Abrahams BS, Volkmar F, PericakVance MA, Cuccaro ML, Gilbert J, Cook EH, Guter SJ, Jacob S, Nurnberger JI, McDougle CJ, Posey DJ, Lord C, Corsello C, Hus V, Buxbaum JD, Kolevzon A, Soorya L, Parkhomenko E, Leventhal BL, Dawson G, Vieland VJ, Hakonarson H, Glessner JT, Kim C, Wang K, Schellenberg GD, Devlin B, Klei L, Minshew N, Sutcliffe JS, Haines JL, Lund SC, Thomson S, Yaspan BL, Coon H, Miller J, McMahon WM, Munson J, Estes A, Wijsman EM. Gene-ontology enrichment analysis in two independent family-based samples highlights biologically palusible processes for autism spectrum disorder. European Journal of Human Genetics 2011, 19(10), 1082-1089.
• Honey E, McConachie H, Turner M, Rodgers J. Validation of the Repetitive Behaviour Questionnaire for use with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2011, 6(1), 355-364.
• Kisler J, McConachie H. Parental reaction to disability. Paediatrics and Child Health 2010, 20(7), 309-314.
• Hudry K, Leadbitter K, Temple K, Slonims V, McConachie H, Aldred C, Howlin P, Charman T. Preschoolers with autism show greater impairment in receptive compared with expressive language abilities. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 2010, 45(6), 681-690.
• McConachie H, Diggle T. Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 2007, 13(1), 120-129.
• Blasi F, Bacchelli E, Pesaresi G, Carone S, Bailey AJ, Maestrini E, International International Molecular Genetic Study of Autism Consortium. Absence of coding mutations in the X-linked genes Neuroligin 3 and neuroligin 4 in individuals with autism from the IMGSAC collection. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 2006, 141B(3), 220-221.
• Jolleff N, Emmerson F, Ryan M, McConachie H. Communication skills in Angelman syndrome: Matching phenotype to genotype. Advances in Speech Language Pathology 2006, 8(1), 28-33.
• McConachie H, Randle V, Hammal D, Le Couteur A. A controlled trial of a training course for parents of children with suspected autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Pediatrics 2005, 147(3), 335-340.
• McConachie H, Couteur AL, Honey E. Can a diagnosis of asperger syndrome be made in very young children with suspected autism spectrum disorder?. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2005, 35(2), 167-176.
• Barnby G, Abbott A, Sykes N, Morris A, Weeks DE, Mott R, Lamb J, Bailey AJ, Monaco AP, International Molecular Genetic Study of Autism Consortium. Candidate-gene screening and association analysis at the autism-susceptibility locus on chromosome 16p: evidence of association at GRIN2A and ABAT. American Journal of Human Genetics 2005, 76(6), 950-966.
• Pal D, Das T, Chaudhury G, Sengupta S, McConachie H. Is social support sometimes a mixed blessing?. Child: Care, Health and Development 2005, 31(3), 261-263.
• Ramchandani P, McConachie H. Mothers, fathers and their children's health. Child: Care, Health and Development 2005, 31(1), 5-6.
• Keane B, Waterston T, McConachie H, Towner E, Cook M, Birks E. Pilot trial of an age-paced parenting newsletter. Community Practitioner 2005, 78, 363-365.
• Honey E, Hastings RP, McConachie H. Use of the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS-F) with parents of young children with autism. Autism 2005, 9(3), 246-255.
• McConachie H. Intervention with parents of young children with Asperger syndrome. In: Yule, W, ed. Interventions for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. London, UK: Association of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2003, pp.33-37.
• Hedderly T, Baird G, McConachie H. Parental reaction to disability. Current Paediatrics 2003, 13(1), 30-35.
• Charman T, Howlin P, Aldred C, Baird G, Degli Espinosa F, Diggle T, Kovshoff H, Law J, Le Couteur A, MacNiven J, Magiati I, Martin N, McConachie H, Peacock S, Pickles A, Randle V, Slonims V, Wolke D. Research into early intervention for children with autism and related disorders: Methodological and design issues. Autism 2003, 7(2), 217-225.
• McConachie H, Logan S. Validation of the measure of processes of care for use when there is no Child Development Centre. Child: Care, Health and Development 2003, 29(1), 35-45.
• McConachie H. Appropriate research design in evaluating interventions for children with disabilities. Child: Care, Health and Development 2002, 28(3), 195-197.
• McConachie H. Educating children with autism [book review]. Autism 2002, 6(4), 437-438.
• Palferman S, Matthews N, Turner M, Moore J, Hervas A, Aubin A, Wallace S, Michelotti J, Wainhouse C, Paul A, Thompson E, Gupta R, Garner C, Murin M, Freitag C, Ryder N, Cottington E, Parr J, Pickles A, Rutter M, Bailey A, Barnby G, Lamb JA, Marlow A, Scudder P, Monaco AP, Baird G, Cox A, Docherty Z, Warburton P, Green EP, Abbs SJ, Le Couteur A, McConachie HR, Berney T, Kelly TP, De Vries PJ, Bolton PF, Green J, Gilchrist A, Whittacker J, Bolton B, Packer R, Maestrini E, Blasi F, Van Engeland H, De Jonge MV, Kemner C, Klauck SM, Beyer KS, Epp S, Poustka A, Benner A, Goethe JW, Poustka F, Ruhl D, Schmotzer G, Boolte S, Feineis-Matthews S, Fombonne E, Rogee B, Fremolle-Kruck J, Pienkowski C, Tauber MT, Pedersen L, Nielsen KB, Eriksen G, Haracopos D, Cotterill RMJ, Tsiantis J, Papanikolaou K, Lord C, Corsello C, Guter S, Leventhal B, Cook E, Smalley SL, Bailey J, McGough J, Levitt J, Pauls D, Volkmar F, Weeks DE, Int Mol Genetic Study Autism Cons. A genomewide screen for autism: Strong evidence for linkage to chromosomes 2q, 7q, and 16p. American Journal of Human Genetics 2001, 69(3), 570-581.
• Clarke MT, McConachie H, Price K, Jolleff N. Augmentative and alternative communication: Principles in assessment. In: M Kersner and J Wright, ed. Speech and Language Therapy: The decision making process when working with children. David Fulton Publishers, 2001, pp.268-282.
• McConachie H, Huq S, Munir S, Kamrunnahar, Akhter N, Ferdous S, Khan NZ. Difficulties for mothers in using an early intervention service for children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh. Child: Care, Health and Development 2001, 27(1), 1-12.
• Palferman S, Matthews N, Turner H, Moore J, Hervas A, Aubin A, Wallace S, Michelotti J, Wainhouse C, Paul A, Thompson E, Murin M, Gupta R, Garner C, Pickles A, Rutter M, Bailey A, Lamb JA, Marlow A, Scudder P, Barnby G, Monaco AP, Baird G, Cox A, Docherty Z, Warburton P, Green EP, Abbs SJ, Le Couteur A, McConachie HR, Berney T, Kelly TP, De Vries PJ, Bolton P, Green J, Gilchrist A, Whittacker J, Bolton B, Packer R, Maestrini E, Van Engeland H, De Jonge MV, Kemner C, Klauck SM, Beyer KS, Epp S, Poustka A, Benner A, Poustka F, Ruhl D, Schmotzer G, Bolte S, Feineis-Matthews S, Fombonne E, Roge B, Fremolle-Kruck J, Pienkowski C, Tauber MT, Pedersen L, Brondum-Nielsen K, Eriksen G, Haracopos D, Cotterill RMJ, Tsiantis J, Papanikolaou K, Lord C, Corsello C, Guter S, Leventhal B, Cook E, Smalley S, Bailey J, Liu A, Dedricks M, Chrzanowski L, Levitt J, Pauls D, Volkmar F, Weeks DE, Intl Molecular Genetic Study Autis. Further characterization of the autism susceptibility locus AUTS1 on chromosome 7q. Human Molecular Genetics 2001, 10(9), 973-982.
• Pennington L, McConachie H. Interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their mothers: the effects of speech intelligibility. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 2001, 36(3), 371-393.
• Pennington L, McConachie H. Predicting patterns of interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their mothers. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2001, 43(2), 83-90.
• Clarke MT, McConachie HR, Wood P, Price K. Speech and language therapy provision for children using augmentative and alternative communication systems. European Journal of Special Needs Education 2001, 16(1), 41-54.
• Clarke M, McConachie H, Price K, Wood P. Views of young people using augmentative and alternative communication systems. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 2001, 36(1), 107-115.
• McConachie H, Huq S, Munir S, Ferdous S, Zaman S, Khan NZ. A randomized controlled trial of alternative modes of service provision to young children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh. Journal of Pediatrics 2000, 137(6), 769-776.
• Baird G, McConachie H, Scrutton D. Parents' perceptions of disclosure of the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2000, 83(6), 475-480.
• Mobarak R, Khan NZ, Munir S, Zaman SS, McConachie H. Predictors of stress in mothers of children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2000, 25(6), 427-433.
• McConachie H. Growing up with disability (research highlights in social work 34). Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities 1999, 12(4), 360-361.