Childhood mental health problems and adolescent alcohol and drug use. The Bergen Child Study

Background: Childhood neglect is a risk factor for subsequent mental health problems. However, research on the unique contribution of emotional and physical subtypes of neglect is lacking. Importantly, if emotional and physical neglect have different impacts on mental health, they must be examined separately to understand how to prevent and treat their effects. Objective: This study aimed to examine associations of emotional and physical neglect with depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use in 18- to 20-year-olds. Methods: Participants ( N = 569, mean age = 18.9, 70% female) responded in an online survey to questions on childhood emotional and physical neglect, childhood abuse, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and alcohol and drug use and problems. Procedures were approved by the University of Sydney Human Ethics Committee. Hierarchical linear regressions were performed, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and other adverse childhood experiences. Results: Combined neglect was associated with depression ( B = 2.895, p < 0.001), anxiety ( B = 1.572, p = 0.003) and stress ( B = 1.781, p = 0.001). However, a second model entering emotional and physical neglect as separate exposures revealed emotional neglect was driving this association with depression ( B = 2.884, p < 0.001), anxiety ( B = 1.627, p = 0.001) and stress ( B = 1.776, p = 0.001), and that physical neglect was not associated with any outcome. Neither emotional nor physical neglect were associated with alcohol or drug use. Conclusion: Emotional neglect is a risk factor for mental health problems in early adulthood. Research that combines emotional and physical neglect into a single exposure may be obscuring relationships with mental health. Mental health prevention and treatment must screen for, and address, emotional neglect.

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Alcohol and drug use among adolescents: and the co-occurrence of mental health problems. Ung@hordaland, a population-based study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005357 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (9) ◽

pp. e005357-e005357 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

J. C. Skogen ◽

B. Sivertsen ◽

A. J. Lundervold ◽

K. M. Stormark ◽

R. Jakobsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Drug Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Problems ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Alcohol And Drug Use

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Mental Health in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Does Screening Capture the Complexity?

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2013/468402 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

H. M. Bjorgaas ◽

I. Elgen ◽

T. Boe ◽

M. Hysing

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Screening ◽

Mental Health Screening ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Bergen Child Study

Introduction. Children with cerebral palsy (CP), one of the most common childhood neurological disorders, often have associated medical and psychological symptoms. This study assesses mental health problems compared to population controls and the ability of a mental health screening tool to predict psychiatric disorders and to capture the complexity of coexisting symptoms.Methods. Children with CP (N=47) were assessed according to DSM-IV criteria using a psychiatric diagnostic instrument (Kiddie-SADS) and a mental health screening questionnaire (SDQ). Participants from the Bergen Child Study, a large epidemiological study, served as controls.Results. Children with CP had significantly higher means on all problem scores including impact scores. Two in three children scored above 90th percentile cutoff on Total Difficulties Score (TDS), and 57% met criteria for a psychiatric disorder, yielding a sensitivity of 0.85 and a specificity of 0.55. Mental health problems coexisted across symptom scales, and peer problems were highly prevalent in all groups of psychiatric disorders.Conclusion. A high prevalence of mental health problems and cooccurrence of symptoms were found in children with CP compared to controls. Screening with SDQ detects mental health problems, but does not predict specific disorders in children with CP. ADHD is common, but difficult to diagnose due to complexity of symptoms. Mental health services integrated in regular followup of children with CP are recommended due to high prevalence and considerable overlap of mental health symptoms.

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Six-year follow-up study of combined type ADHD from childhood to young adulthood: Predictors of functional impairment and comorbid symptoms

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.08.007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

T Cadman ◽

J. Findon ◽

H. Eklund ◽

H. Hayward ◽

D. Howley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Drug Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Health Problems ◽

Population Norms ◽

Police Contact ◽

Dsm Iv

AbstractBackgroundADHD in childhood is associated with development of negative psychosocial and behavioural outcomes in adults. Yet, relatively little is known about which childhood and adulthood factors are predictive of these outcomes and could be targets for effective interventions. To date follow-up studies have largely used clinical samples from the United States with children ascertained at baseline using broad criteria for ADHD including all clinical subtypes or the use of DSM III criteria.AimsTo identify child and adult predictors of comorbid and psychosocial comorbid outcomes in ADHD in a UK sample of children with DSM-IV combined type ADHD.MethodOne hundred and eighteen adolescents and young adults diagnosed with DSM-IV combined type ADHD in childhood were followed for an average of 6 years. Comorbid mental health problems, drug and alcohol use and police contact were compared for those with persistent ADHD, sub-threshold ADHD and population norms taken from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Study 2007. Predictors included ADHD symptomology and gender.ResultsPersistent ADHD was associated with greater levels of anger, fatigue, sleep problems and anxiety compared to sub-threshold ADHD. Comorbid mental health problems were predicted by current symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not by childhood ADHD severity. Both persistent and sub-threshold ADHD was associated with higher levels of drug use and police contact compared to population norms.ConclusionsYoung adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD showed increased rates of comorbid mental health problems, which were predicted by current levels of ADHD symptoms. This suggests the importance of the continuing treatment of ADHD throughout the transitional years and into adulthood. Drug use and police contact were more common in ADHD but were not predicted by ADHD severity in this sample.

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Chapter 2 Diagnosis and management of common childhood mental health problems

Mental Health ◽

10.1093/med/9780198570578.003.0002 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Tony Kendrick ◽

Chantal Simon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Diagnosis And Management ◽

Childhood Mental Health

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Would a universal check of 3-year-olds prevent or create childhood mental health problems?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867412454587 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (8) ◽

pp. 703-703 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

John W Toumbourou

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Childhood Mental Health

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Perceived need, barriers to and facilitators of mental health care among HIV-infected PWID in Hanoi, Vietnam: a qualitative study

Harm Reduction Journal ◽

10.1186/s12954-019-0349-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Minh X. Nguyen ◽

Vivian F. Go ◽

Quynh X. Bui ◽

Bradley N. Gaynes ◽

Brian W. Pence

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Drug Use ◽

Health Services ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Injection Drug Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems

Abstract Background The HIV epidemic in Vietnam has been primarily driven by injection drug use. HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vietnam have very high rates of mental health problems, which can accelerate progression to AIDS and increase mortality rates. No research has explored the barriers and facilitators of mental health care for HIV-infected PWID in Vietnam. Methods We conducted 28 in-depth interviews among HIV-infected PWID (n = 16), HIV and MMT (methadone maintenance treatment) providers (n = 8), and health officials (n = 4) in Hanoi. We explored participants’ perceptions of mental health disorders, and barriers and facilitators to seeking and receiving mental health care. Results HIV-infected PWID were perceived by both PWID, HIV/MMT providers, and health officials to be vulnerable to mental health problems and to have great need for mental health care. Perceived social, physical, and economical barriers included stigma towards HIV, injection drug use, and mental illnesses; lack of awareness around mental health issues; lack of human resources, facilities and information on mental health services; and limited affordability of mental health services. Social support from family and healthcare providers was a perceived facilitator of mental health care. Conclusions Interventions should raise self-awareness of HIV-infected PWID about common mental health problems; address social, physical, economic barriers to seeking mental health services; and increase social support for patients.

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Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care ◽

10.1108/ijmhsc-05-2019-0050 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 93-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna-Karin Ivert ◽

Mia-Maria Magnusson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Drug Use ◽

International Research ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽

Content Type ◽

Refugee Minors

Purpose Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine. Findings Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support. Originality/value This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

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