Association between mental and physical health problems in high-risk adolescents: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
This longitudinal study examined the relationship between mental and physical health problems in a sample of high-risk youth served in the public sector.


METHODS
Participants included youth aged 9-18 years at baseline, randomly sampled from one of five public service sectors in San Diego County, California, and youths may have been active to more than one sector. Diagnoses for mood, anxiety, and disruptive disorders based on structured diagnostic interviews were determined at baseline and data regarding health-related problems were collected 2 years post-baseline.


RESULTS
Mood and disruptive behavior disorders were related to cumulative health problem incidence, as well as aggregate measures of health problems and severe health problems. In addition mood disorder diagnosis was associated with higher rates of infectious diseases, respiratory problems, and weight problems. Disruptive disorder diagnosis was related to higher rates of risk behavior-related health problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The present work extends the research on the relationship between mental and physical health problems to adolescents served in the public sector, who are at especially high risk for behavioral and emotional problems. Potential mechanisms by which mental health problems may impact health problems are discussed. We suggest the development of effective interagency cooperation between medical and mental health systems to improve the care of youth with comorbid mental and physical disorders.
Aarons
Gregory A
GA
Child & Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California 92123-4282, USA. gaarons@ucsd.edu
Monn
Amy R
AR
Leslie
Laurel K
LK
Garland
Ann F
AF
Lugo
Lindsay
L
Hough
Richard L
RL
Brown
Sandra A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012309:Risk-Taking