Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a community population of older adolescents.
In a community study of 386 Caucasian working-class older adolescents, a sizeable proportion met lifetime criteria for selected DSM-III-R diagnoses. Alcohol abuse/dependence had the highest lifetime prevalence rate (32.4%), followed by phobias (22.8%), drug abuse/dependence (9.8%), major depression (9.4%), and, least commonly, post-traumatic stress disorder (6.3%) and obsessive compulsive disorder (2.1%). Significant gender differences were found for major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence, whereas socioeconomic differences occurred in major depression, phobias, and drug abuse/dependence. Adolescents with specific psychiatric disorders had significantly poorer functioning on measures of behavioral problems, interpersonal problems, self-esteem, and school performance. Results suggest the importance of identifying psychiatric disorder in adolescence, and the need for preventive strategies and prompt treatment.
Reinherz
H Z
HZ
Simmons College School of Social Work, Boston, MA 02116.
Giaconia
R M
RM
Lefkowitz
E S
ES
Pakiz
B
B
Frost
A K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D010553:Personality Development; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors