The future of our country depends on the mental health and
strength of our young people. However, many children have
mental health problems that interfere with normal
development and functioning. In the U.S., 1 in 10 children and
adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to
cause some level of impairment. However, in any given year,
it is estimated that fewer than 1 in 5 of these children
receives needed treatment.
The mental health problems affecting children and
adolescents include the following:
Depression
Large-scale research studies have reported that up to 3
percent of children and up to 8 percent of adolescents in the
U.S. suffer from depression, a serious mental disorder that
adversely affects mood, energy, interest, sleep, appetite,
and overall functioning. In contrast to normal emotional
experiences of sadness or passing mood states, the
symptoms of depression are extreme and persistent and can
interfere significantly with the ability to function at home or
at school. There is evidence that depression emerging early
in life often recurs and continues into adulthood, and that
early onset depression may predict more severe illness in
adult life. Diagnosing and treating children and adolescents
with depression is critical in preventing impairment in
academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning and to
allow children to live up to their full potential. .
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health
problems that occur in children and adolescents. According to
one large-scale study of 9 to 17 year olds, entitled Methods
for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental
Disorders (MECA), as many as 13 percent of young people had
an anxiety disorder in a year.
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most
commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder of childhood,
estimated to affect 3 to 5 percent of school-aged children.
Research shows that ADHD tends to run in families. Its core
symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of
attention, concentration, activity, distractibility, and
impulsivity. Children with ADHD usually have impaired
functioning in peer relationships and multiple settings
including home and school. ADHD has also been shown to have
long-term adverse effects on academic performance,
vocational success, and social-emotional development.
Eating Disorders
In the U.S., eating disorders are most common among
adolescent and young women. In addition to causing various
physical health problems, eating disorders are associated
with illnesses such as depression, substance abuse, and
anxiety disorders. Among adolescent and young adult women
in the U.S., it is estimated that between 0.5 and 1.0 percent
suffer from anorexia nervosa, 1 to 3 percent have bulimia
nervosa, and 0.7 to 4 percent experience binge-eating
disorder. There are limited data concerning the prevalence
in males.
Manic Depressive Illness
Manic-depressive illness causes extreme shifts in mood,
energy, and functioning. Overly energized, disruptive, and
reckless periods alternate with periods of sadness,
withdrawal, hopelessness, and other depressive symptoms.
Unlike normal mood states of happiness and sadness,
symptoms of manic-depressive illness can interfere with
school performance, family relationships, peer interactions,
and other everyday activities. Although manic-depressive
illness typically emerges in late adolescence or early
adulthood, there is increasing evidence that the disorder
also can begin in childhood. According to one study, one
percent of adolescents ages 14-18 were found to have met
criteria for manic-depressive illness or cyclothymia, a milder
form of the illness, in their lifetime.
Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders are
brain disorders that occurs in as many as 2 in 1,000
Americans. They typically affect the ability to communicate,
form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to
the outside world. The signs of autism usually develop by 3
years of age. The symptoms and deficits associated with
autism may vary among people with the disorder. While some
individuals with autism function at a relatively high level,
with speech and intelligence intact, others are
developmentally delayed, mute, or have serious language
difficulty.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain
disorder that affects about 1 percent of the population
during their lifetime. Symptoms include hallucinations,
delusions, disordered thinking, and social withdrawal.
Schizophrenia appears to be extremely rare in children; more
typically, the illness emerges in late adolescence or early
adulthood. However, research studies are revealing that
various cognitive and social impairments may be evident early
in children who later develop schizophrenia. These and other
findings may lead to the development of preventive
interventions for children.
Tourette's Syndrome
Tourette's Syndrome (TS) is characterized by repeated,
involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds,
known as tics. Affecting approximately 100,000 Americans in
its full-blown form, TS generally emerges during childhood or
early adolescence.