Amrit Dhariwal

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Staff Psychologist, Psychiatry Teaching and Consultation Clinic, BC Children’s Hospital

Academic Affiliations

Clinical Assistant Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Research Theme

Brain, Behaviour & Development

Research Group

Mental Health & Behaviour

Research Areas

Contact

amrit.dhariwal@cw.bc.ca

Phone

(604) 875-2097

Mailing Address

4500 Oak St
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3N1

Overview: Dr. Dhariwal is a clinical researcher and practicing psychologist. Her past research focused on the longitudinal development and function of parent, peer, and romantic relationships between adolescence and early adulthood.
Her research efforts have converged with her clinical interests to focus on the tie between such interpersonal relationships and mental health. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, her current research is centered on family-based psychotherapies for young people presenting with physical symptoms affected by somatization.
Publications: 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
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
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
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
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
JPP Student Journal Club Commentary: When Adults Evaluate a Child’s Pain: Considering Study Methodology, Gender Bias and Parental Experience
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz012
05/2019
Atypical somatic symptoms in adults with prolonged recovery from mild traumatic brain injury
medRxiv
Stubbs, J.L. and Green, K.E. and Silverberg, N.D. and Howard, A. and Dhariwal, A. 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: 10.1101/19004622
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
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
Amrit Dhariwal and Jennifer Connolly
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00803.x
02/2013
The scope of Canadian research on adolescent romantic relationships
International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development Bulletin
2012
Adolescent Peer Relationships and Emerging Adult Romantic Styles
Journal of Adolescent Research
Amrit Dhariwal and Jennifer Connolly and Marinella Paciello and Gian Vittorio Caprara
DOI: 10.1177/0743558409341080
07/2009
Research: Research Group Members

Dora Chan, Volunteer
Samuel Cheong
Kate Conway, FLEX Student
Mary Crichton, Volunteer
Marin Davidson, Volunteer Research Assistant
Katherina Dickin, Volunteer
Adam Dorner, Volunteer
Matthew Fetterly, Volunteer Research Assistant
Isabel Geiger, Volunteer Research Assistant
Anna Kristen, Volunteer Research Assistant
Allison Lui, Medical Student
Bianca Matthews, Summer Student - Research Assistant
Emma Miller
Miki Miyake
Hannah Mohun, Doctoral Student
Jasmyn Skinner
Octavian Turner, Research Assistant
Lavleen Walia
Valerie Wong, Volunteer 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

It takes a village: Supporting youth mental health in the pandemic recovery period

Dr. Hasina Samji and Dr. Evelyn Stewart have authored a report entitled "Improving Youth Mental Health and Well-being During the COVID-19 Recovery Phase in BC," which recommends serving undeserved populations better, improving collaboration among mental health partners, and enhancing social and emotional learning strategies in schools and community settings.

Continue reading It takes a village: Supporting youth mental health in the pandemic recovery period

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute treks to the Kootenays

In early May, BC Children's Hospital researchers trek to the Kootenays for Mini Med School and the inaugural Mini Science Night events

Continue reading BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute treks to the Kootenays

At last — Developing potential cures for genetic neurodevelopmental disorders

Dr. Blair Leavitt is using the latest in gene-editing technology and working directly with patient families to develop treatments for children with pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders.

Continue reading At last — Developing potential cures for genetic neurodevelopmental disorders

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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