Amrit Dhariwal

Overview: Dr. Amrit Dhariwal holds an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UBC. She is also Co-Director of the Family Therapy Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital. Her current clinical and research initiatives focus on helping families of children with various physical symptoms affected by stress. In the area of somatization, she has co-developed treatments, published peer-review literature, and created knowledge translation products for public use.
Publications: Exploring Family Care Journeys to Inform Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Somatic Symptom Disorders
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
Megan A. Young and Katelynn E. Boerner and Sheila Marshall and Amrit Dhariwal and Jennifer S. Coelho
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2024.01.002
08/2024
Patient-Oriented Multifamily Group-Based Care for Somatization: Narratives From Treated Adolescents and Parents
Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology
Amrit Kaur Dhariwal and Allison Lui and Shanlea L. Gordon and Anna Kristen and Katelynn E. Boerner and Jessica Opie and Hannah Mohun and Katherine E. Green and Andrea J. M. Chapman and Elizabeth A. Stanford and Marianne M. Vidler and Tim F. Oberlander
DOI: 10.1037/cpp0000500
08/2024
Attachment and Clinical Outcomes Among Treatment-Seeking Adults With Persistent Symptoms After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Shi, S. and Rioux, M. and Dhariwal, A.K. and Silverberg, N.D.
DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20220073
2023
Somatization in Adolescents With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion: A Retrospective Chart Review
The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Green, K.E. and Purtzki, J. and Chapman, A. and Oberlander, T.F. and Silverberg, N.D. and Dhariwal, A.K.
DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21070169
2022
Pediatric Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and gastrointestinal-related Somatic Symptom Disorders: Overlap in clinical presentation
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Boerner, K.E. and Coelho, J.S. and Syal, F. and Bajaj, D. and Finner, N. and Dhariwal, A.K.
DOI: 10.1177/13591045211048170
2022
Somatic Symptom Disorder, Conversion Disorder, and Chronic Pain: Pediatric Clinician Perspectives
Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology
Kim R. Edwards and C. Meghan McMurtry and Bruce Dick and Rebecca Lewinson and Amrit Dhariwal and Joel Katz
DOI: 10.1037/cpp0000377
12/2021
The utility of universal screening for somatization in a pediatric emergency department: A prospective evaluation
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Virk, P. and Ellis, J. and Dhariwal, A. and Chapman, A. and Doan, Q.
DOI: 10.1177/13591045211017619
2021
Making Sense of "somatization": A Systematic Review of its Relationship to Pediatric Pain
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Boerner, K.E. and Green, K. and Chapman, A. and Stanford, E. and Newlove, T. and Edwards, K. and Dhariwal, A.
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz102
2020
Atypical Somatic Symptoms in Adults With Prolonged Recovery From Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Frontiers in Neurology
Stubbs, J.L. and Green, K.E. and Silverberg, N.D. and Howard, A. and Dhariwal, A.K. and Brubacher, J.R. and Garraway, N. and Heran, M.K.S. and Sekhon, M.S. and Aquino, A. and Purcell, V. and Hutchison, J.S. and Torres, I.J. and Panenka, W.J.
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00043
2020
JPP Student journal club commentary: When adults evaluate a child's pain: Considering study methodology, gender bias and parental experience
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Boerner, K.E. and Dhariwal, A.K.
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz012
2019
4.31 The Roles of Symptom Class and Stress Regulation in Explaining Somatization and Functioning in Hospital-Referred Youth
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Amrit K. Dhariwal and Katherine E. Green and Andrea J.M. Chapman
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.257
10/2018
4.32 Relationship Between Stage of Behavior Change and Functioning in Youth With Somatization
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Katelynn E. Boerner and Amrit K. Dhariwal and Tyler Pirlot and Claire M. De Souza
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.258
10/2018
13.1 The Development and Evaluation of a Multifamily Treatment Approach for Adolescents Affected by Somatic Symptoms
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Amrit K. Dhariwal
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.083
10/2018
The mind-body connection program for somatization in youth: A novel intervention for engaging families in mental health care
Canadian Journal of Pain
Dhariwal, A., Chapman, A., Newlove, T. (2017, May). The mind-body connection program for somatization in youth: A novel intervention for engaging families in mental health care [Abstract]. Canadian Journal of Pain, 1, A51. doi: 10.1080/24740527.2017.1329312
DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2017.1329312
05/2017
Romantic Experiences of Homeland and Diaspora South Asian Youth: Westernizing Processes of Media and Friends
Journal of Research on Adolescence
Dhariwal, A. and Connolly, J.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00803.x
2013
The scope of Canadian research on adolescent romantic relationships
International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development Bulletin
Dhariwal, A., & Connolly, J. (2012). The scope of Canadian research on adolescent romantic relationships. International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development Bulletin, 1, 27-31. (Invited Review).
2012
Adolescent peer relationships and emerging adult romantic styles: A longitudinal study of youth in an italian community
Journal of Adolescent Research
Dhariwal, A. and Connolly, J. and Paciello, M. and Caprara, G.V.
DOI: 10.1177/0743558409341080
2009
Research: Research Group Members

Harlin Bharaj, Research Assistant
Dora Chan, Volunteer
Harnoor Dhaliwal, Volunteer
Matthew Fetterly, Research Assistant
Anna Kristen, Volunteer Research Assistant
Keysa Mundel, Research Assistant

Stories See all

What is somatization?

In this ask an expert we talk to Dr. Amrit Dhariwal and Dr. Katelynn Boener about Somatic Symptom or Related Disorder (SSRD), why it’s so poorly understood and why it’s so important we start talking about it.

Continue reading What is somatization?

Recipients of 2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards and BCCHR Studentships and Fellowships

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards & BCCHR Studentships and Fellowships

BC Children's Hospital Research Institute is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards and the 2019 BCCHR Studentships and Fellowships.

Continue reading Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards & BCCHR Studentships and Fellowships

High school students dive in to child health research at Mini Med School Kamloops and Williams Lake

Held in Kamloops on May 6 and Williams Lake on May 7, 2019, Mini Med School BC inspired and engaged 161 high school students from BC's interior and Cariboo region.

Continue reading High school students dive in to child health research at Mini Med School Kamloops and Williams Lake

Congratulations CIHR Fall 2024 Project Grant recipients

Congratulations to the investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fall 2024 Project Grant competition!

Continue reading Congratulations CIHR Fall 2024 Project Grant recipients

Exploring pain in autistic youth: A Q&A with lead researcher, Dr. Katelynn Boerner

Researchers at BC Children’s Hospital and UBC are investigating pain in autistic youth to better understand how pain manifests uniquely for them, aiming to improve treatment and prevention options. By capturing pain data throughout the day and collaborating with autistic researchers and families, the study seeks to address gaps in knowledge, challenge outdated assumptions, and guide more inclusive, autism-informed clinical care.

Continue reading Exploring pain in autistic youth: A Q&A with lead researcher, Dr. Katelynn Boerner

Advancing understanding of the developing brain in preterm babies to help inform therapies

BCCHR research found new evidence that the younger a baby is born, the slower their brain development will be. Scientists are investigating how the brain functions at an early gestational age so they can identify potential therapies.

Continue reading Advancing understanding of the developing brain in preterm babies to help inform therapies

Videos

Somatization and Risky or Self-Damaging Behaviours

Somatization involves the physical experience of emotions. For about six to 13 per cent of teens, symptoms from somatization become so severe they interfere with academic, social, and physical development, and can also confuse teens, families and even doctors. In this presentation, learn about the "Mind and Body Together" treatment group, which helps people meet others with similar medical experiences and find out that bodily-felt emotions are very normal. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), defined as direct and deliberate injury to one's own body without suicidal intent, is estimated to affect between 15 and 30 per cent of people. Participants will learn about the presentation of NSSI, including: who is likely to engage in this behaviour, how it evolves over time and how NSSI is connected to other types of self-damaging behaviours. Presented by Dr. Amrit Dhariwal, Investigator & Psychologist, BC Children's Hospital; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UBC. | Dr. Brianna Turner, Affiliate Investigator, BC Children's Hospital; Research Fellow, Centre for Youth and Society & Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria. (2022)

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