title: Growing up is hard: mental disorders in adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Puberty brings on many biological, mental, and social changes. In this phase of life, the prevalence of serious mental disorders is about 10%.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on a selective search for publications on the prevalence, causes, risk factors, and effects of mental disorders in adolescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internalizing mental disorders are more common in girls; these include depression, social anxiety, and eating disorders. Their prevalence ranges from 12% to 23%, depending on the particular diagnostic instruments and criteria that are applied. Disruptive disorders, e.g., disorders of social behavior, are more common in boys, with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 5% to 10%. Marked differences between the sexes appear during puberty. The one-year prevalence of self-injurious behavior is about 14% in boys and 25% in girls. The consumption of legal and illegal drugs is one of the risk-seeking behaviors associated with adolescence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In routine check-ups and medical office visits, particular attention should be paid to the possibility of a mental disorder. Special outpatient clinics for adolescents can help more young people avail themselves of the existing preventive and therapeutic measures. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent mental disorders in adulthood and foster age-appropriate development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany. bherpertz-dahlmann@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herpertz-Dahlmann
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bühren
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Remschmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015897:Comorbidity; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology