Prevalence of mental disorders and psychosocial 

impairments in adolescents and young adults

Background. As part of a longitudinal study, prevalence findings of DSM-IV disorders are presented for a random sample of 3021 respondents aged 14 to 24, with response rate 71%.Method. Assessment included various subtypes of disorders, subthreshold conditions and disorders that have only rarely been studied in other epidemiological surveys. The computer-assisted Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) was used to derive DSM-IV diagnoses.Results. Substance disorders were the most frequent (lifetime 17·7%; 12-month 11·4%), with abuse being considerably more frequent than dependence. Other mental disorders had a lifetime prevalence of 27·5% (12-month, 17·5%) with depressive disorders (16·8%) being more frequent than anxiety disorders (14·4%). Eating disorders (3·0%) and threshold somatoform disorders (1·2%) were rare disorders. Subthreshold anxiety and somatoform disorders, however, were more frequent than threshold disorders. Prevalence of disorders was equally high for males and females, although specific disorder prevalence varied significantly by gender. The co-occurrence of disorders (co-morbidity) was substantial and was significantly related to greater reductions in work productivity and increased rates of professional helpseeking behaviour.Conclusions. Findings underline that mental disorders in young adults are frequent and impairing, limiting work and education ability and social interaction. Given the fact that adolescents and young adults are in a key phase of socialization in terms of professional career and interpersonal relationships, our findings indicate a considerable risk potential for an accumulation of complicating factors and future chronicity. This paper is the first report of this ongoing longitudinal study about early developmental conditions of mental disorders.

Download Full-text

Prevalence, co-morbidity and correlates of mental disorders in the general population: results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (GHS)

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291703001399 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 597-611 ◽

Cited By ~ 659

Author(s):

F. JACOBI ◽

H.-U. WITTCHEN ◽

C. HÖLTING ◽

M. HÖFLER ◽

H. PFISTER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Somatoform Disorders ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

German Population ◽

Conditional Response ◽

Health Interview ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Dsm Iv

Background. The German National Health Interview and Examination Survey (GHS) is the first government mandated nationwide study to investigate jointly the prevalence of somatic and mental disorders within one study in the general adult population in Germany. This paper reports results from its Mental Health Supplement (GHS-MHS) on 4-week 12-month, and selected lifetime prevalence of a broad range of DSM-IV mental disorders, their co-morbidity and correlates in the community.Methods. The sample of the GHS-MHS (n=4181; multistage stratified random sample drawn from population registries; conditional response rate: 87·6%) can be regarded as representative for the German population aged 18–65. Diagnoses are based on fully structured computer assisted clinical interviews (M-CIDI), conducted by clinically trained interviewers.Results. 12-month prevalence for any DSM-IV study disorder is 31% (lifetime: 43%; 4-week: 20%) with anxiety disorders, mood disorders and somatoform syndromes being the most frequent diagnoses. Retrospective age of onset information reveals that most disorders begin early in life. Co-morbidity rates among mental disorders range from 44% to 94%. Correlates of increased rates of mental disorders and co-morbidity were: female gender (except for substance disorders), not being married, low social class, and poor somatic health status. Health care utilization for mental disorders depended on co-morbidity (30% in ‘pure’, 76% in highly co-morbid cases) and varied from 33% for substance use disorders to 75% for panic disorder.Conclusions. Results confirm and extend results from other national studies using the same assessment instruments with regard to prevalence, co-morbidity and sociodemographic correlates, covering a broader range of DSM-IV disorders [i.e. somatoform disorders, all anxiety disorders (except PTSD), mental disorders due to substance or general medical factor, eating disorders]. Intervention rates were higher than in previous studies, yet still low overall.

Download Full-text

Social fears and social phobia in a community sample of adolescents and young adults: prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidity

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291798008174 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 309-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 417

Author(s):

H.-U. WITTCHEN ◽

M. B. STEIN ◽

R. C. KESSLER

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Phobia ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Parental History ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

History Of ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

Generalized Social Phobia

Background. The paper describes prevalence, impairments, patterns of co-morbidity and other correlates of DSM-IV social phobia in adolescents and young adults, separating generalized and non-generalized social phobics.Methods. Data are derived from the baseline investigation of the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study (EDSP), a prospective longitudinal community study of 3021 subjects, aged 14–24. Diagnoses were based on the DSM-IV algorithms of an expanded version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.Results. Lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV/CIDI social phobia was 9·5% in females and 4·9% in males, with about one-third being classified as generalized social phobics. Twelve-month prevalence was only slightly lower, indicating considerable persistence. Respondents with generalized social phobia reported an earlier age of onset, higher symptom persistence, more co-morbidity, more severe impairments, higher treatment rates and indicated more frequently a parental history of mental disorders than respondents with non-generalized social phobia.Conclusions. History of DSM-IV social phobia was found to be quite prevalent in 14–24 year-olds. The generalized subtype of social phobia was found to have different correlates and to be considerably more persistent, impairing and co-morbid than non-generalized social phobia. Although generalized social phobics are more likely than non-generalized social phobics to receive mental health treatments, the treatment rate in this sample was low despite the fact that mental health services are free in Germany.

Download Full-text

Danger and loss events and the incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders: a prospective-longitudinal community study of adolescents and young adults

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291714001160 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 153-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

E. Asselmann ◽

H.-U. Wittchen ◽

R. Lieb ◽

M. Höfler ◽

K. Beesdo-Baum

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Community Sample ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Logistic Regressions ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

BackgroundThere are inconclusive findings regarding whether danger and loss events differentially predict the onset of anxiety and depression.MethodA community sample of adolescents and young adults (n = 2304, age 14–24 years at baseline) was prospectively followed up in up to four assessments over 10 years. Incident anxiety and depressive disorders were assessed at each wave using the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. Life events (including danger, loss and respectively mixed events) were assessed at baseline using the Munich Event List (MEL). Logistic regressions were used to reveal associations between event types at baseline and incident disorders at follow-up.ResultsLoss events merely predicted incident ‘pure’ depression [odds ratio (OR) 2.4 per standard deviation, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–3.9, p < 0.001] whereas danger events predicted incident ‘pure’ anxiety (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.6, p = 0.023) and ‘pure’ depression (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7–3.5, p < 0.001). Mixed events predicted incident ‘pure’ anxiety (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5–5.7, p = 0.002), ‘pure’ depression (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.4, p < 0.001) and their co-morbidity (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.8–7.0, p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results provide further evidence for differential effects of danger, loss and respectively mixed events on incident anxiety, depression and their co-morbidity. Since most loss events referred to death/separation from significant others, particularly interpersonal loss appears to be highly specific in predicting depression.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Three Questionnaires to Screen for Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 123-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anne van Alebeek ◽

Paul T. van der Heijden ◽

Christel Hessels ◽

Melissa S.Y. Thong ◽

Marcel van Aken

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Patient Questionnaire ◽

Statistical Manual ◽

Axis Ii ◽

Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽

Dsm Iv

Abstract. One of the most common personality disorders among adolescents and young adults is the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The objective of current study was to assess three questionnaires that can reliably screen for BPD in adolescents and young adults (N = 53): the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD; Zanarini et al., 2003 ), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th edition – BPD scale (PDQ-4 BPD; Hyler, 1994 ), and the SCID-II Patient Questionnaire – BPD scale (SCID-II-PQ BPD). The nine criteria of BPD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV; APA, 1994 ) were measured with the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders – BPD scale (SCID-II; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams, & Benjamin, 1995 ). Correlations between the questionnaires and the SCID-II were calculated. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were tested. All instruments predicted the BPD diagnosis equally well.

Download Full-text

The natural course of DSM-IV somatoform disorders and syndromes among adolescents and young adults: a prospective-longitudinal community study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(02)00686-7 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 321-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Roselind Lieb ◽

Petra Zimmermann ◽

Robert H Friis ◽

Michael Höfler ◽

Sven Tholen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Substance Use ◽

Young Adults ◽

Somatoform Disorders ◽

Epidemiologic Study ◽

Natural Course ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

Over Time

SummaryObjective.Although somatoform disorders are assumed to be chronic clinical conditions, epidemiological knowledge on their natural course based on representative samples is not available.Method.Data come from a prospective epidemiologic study of adolescents and young adults in Munich, Germany. Respondents’ diagnoses (N = 2548) at baseline and follow-up on average 42 months later are considered. The follow-up incidence, stability as well as selected baseline risk factors (sociodemographics, psychopathology, trauma exposure) for the incidence and stability of somatoform disorders and syndromes are prospectively examined. Diagnostic information was assessed by using the standardized Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI).Results.Over the follow-up period, incidence rate for any of the covered somatoform diagnoses was 25.7%. Stability for the overall group of any somatoform disorder/syndrome was 48%. Female gender, lower social class, the experience of any substance use, anxiety and affective disorder as well as the experience of traumatic sexual and physical threat events predicted new onsets of somatoform conditions, while stability was predicted by being female, prior existing substance use, affective and eating disorders as well as the experience of a serious accident.Conclusions.At least for a substantial proportion of individuals, the overall picture of somatization seems to be relatively stable, but with fluctuation in the symptom picture over time. Being female, the experience of substance use as well as anxiety disorder seem to constitute risk factors for the onset of new somatoform conditions as well as for a stable course over time.

Download Full-text

Common Mental Disorders

Psychology: Volume 4 ◽

10.1093/oso/9780199498871.003.0002 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 31-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Raguram

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Somatoform Disorders ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Adjustment Disorder ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Wide Range ◽

Icd 10 ◽

High Degree

This chapter focuses on common mental disorders (CMDs). These disorders include a wide range of conditions that are frequently noticed in the community. It is essentially a convenient, functional grouping of conditions. The chapter analyses the trends on the basis of researches in this area over the past decade. The classification of CMDs for primary health care, according to ICD-10, includes depression, phobic disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, mixed anxiety and depression, adjustment disorder, dissociative disorder, and somatoform disorders. Irrespective of the nature of the disorder, these patients often present with somatic complaints: some patients may admit to having emotional symptoms. It was observed that there is a high degree of co-morbidity among them, leading to significant levels of disability and increased health-care costs.

Download Full-text

ICD-10/DSM-IV index

Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry ◽

10.1093/med/9780199693887.003.0026 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 1023-1042

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Affective Disorders ◽

Somatoform Disorders ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Psychoactive Substance ◽

Adult Personality ◽

Behavioural Syndromes ◽

Icd 10 ◽

Dsm Iv

F00-F09 Organic, including symptomatic mental disorders F10–F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse F20–F29 Schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders F30–F39 Mood (affective) disorders F40–F49 Neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders F50–F59 Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbance and physical factors F60–F69 Disorders of adult personality and behaviour...

Download Full-text

The Current Age of Youthful Melancholia

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.152.1.4 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 152 (1) ◽

pp. 4-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

Gerald L. Klerman

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

World War Ii ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Cohort Effect ◽

Secular Trends ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Statistical Methodology ◽

World War ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Epidemiological Surveys

The possibility of a rise in rates of depression among adolescents and young adults was first reported in the 1970s. Particular note was taken of the emergence of childhood depression and the increase in suicide attempts and death among adolescents and young adults. Data from large-sample family studies and community epidemiological surveys have been reviewed and reanalysed, using life-table statistical methodology. Evidence for secular trends are presented, and the problems of disentangling period and cohort effect are discussed. It appears that the ‘baby boomers' -those born in the years after World War II- have had increased rates of depression and other related illnesses, including drug abuse and alcoholism. The theoretical aspects of this are discussed, particularly for gene-environment interactions.

Download Full-text