title: Prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among adolescents in Italy: the PrISMA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While in the last 5 years several studies have been conducted in Italy on the prevalence of mental disorders in adults, to date no epidemiological study has been targeted on mental disorders in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-phase study was conducted on 3,418 participants using the child behavior checklist/6-18 (CBCL) and the development and well-being assessment (DAWBA), a structured interview with verbatim reports reviewed by clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of CBCL caseness and DSM-IV disorders was 9.8% (CI 8.8-10.8%) and 8.2% (CI 4.2-12.3%), respectively. DSM-IV Emotional disorders were more frequently observed (6.5% CI 2.2-10.8%) than externalizing disorders (1.2% CI 0.2-2.3%). In girls, prevalence estimates increased significantly with age; furthermore, living with a single parent, low level of maternal education, and low family income were associated with a higher likelihood of suffering from emotional or behavioral problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately one in ten adolescents has psychological problems. Teachers and clinicians should focus on boys and girls living with a single parent and/or in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, 23842, Bosiso Parini, LC, Italy. alessandra.frigerio@bp.inf.it
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frigerio
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rucci
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammaniti
authors.forename: Ombretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carlet
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavolina
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenti
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinuzzi
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morosini
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nardocci
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polidori
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tullini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanzin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walder
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuddas
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molteni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires