Prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among adolescents in Italy: the PrISMA study.
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.
Frigerio
Alessandra
A
Scientific Institute E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, 23842, Bosiso Parini, LC, Italy. alessandra.frigerio@bp.inf.it
Rucci
Paola
P
Goodman
Robert
R
Ammaniti
Massimo
M
Carlet
Ombretta
O
Cavolina
Pina
P
De Girolamo
Giovanni
G
Lenti
Carlo
C
Lucarelli
Loredana
L
Mani
Elisa
E
Martinuzzi
Andrea
A
Micali
Nadia
N
Milone
Annarita
A
Morosini
Pierluigi
P
Muratori
Filippo
F
Nardocci
Franco
F
Pastore
Valentina
V
Polidori
Gabriella
G
Tullini
Andrea
A
Vanzin
Laura
L
Villa
Laura
L
Walder
Mauro
M
Zuddas
Alessandro
A
Molteni
Massimo
M
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