A cross-sectional study to compare levels of psychiatric morbidity between young people and adults exposed to violence in a large urban center.
Teenagers and young adults are more exposed to violence and traumatic events than adults, and these factors can be associated with mental disorders. This paper aims at investigating whether young people are more exposed to violence and traumatic events and to compare pattern of mental disorders with adults.



Cross-sectional study using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, conducted between 2007 and 2008 with a randomly selected sample of 15 to 75 year-old residents of São Paulo, Brazil.



Two thousand five hundred thirty-six participants were divided into two groups: 1096 (43.2 %) young people (15 to 24 years), and 1440 (56.8 %) adults (25 to 75 years). 12-month exposure to traumatic events was higher among young people (32.1 % vs. 20.6 %; p < 0.001). Assaultive violence was reported by 13.4 % of young people and 8.6 % of adults (p = 0.012); 20.1 % of young people and 13 % of adults reported suffering other injury or shocking events (p < 0.001); sudden death/life threatening illness of a close person was declared by 6.1 % of young people and 3.2 % of adults (p = 0.017). Prevalence of alcohol related disorders was higher among young people (5.4 % vs. 2.5 %; P = 0.032); depressive disorders were more prevalent among adults (9.0 % vs. 4.7 %; P = 0.004). Alcohol related disorders were associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR = 3.4; 95 % CI = 1.36 to 8.52; p = 0.004) and adults (OR = 2.38; 95 % CI = 1.23 to 4.61; p = 0.002). Phobic/anxiety disorders were associated to other injury or shocking events among young people (OR = 1.28; 95 % CI = 0.67 to 2.44; p = 0.025). Major depressive disorder was associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR = 2.27; 95 % CI = 1.09 to 4.74; p = 0.004) and adults (OR = 1.28; 95 % CI = 0.85 to 1.93; p = 0.009).



Exposure to violence and traumatic events was higher among young people. Alcohol related disorders, depression and phobic/anxiety disorders were significantly higher among young people exposed to traumatic events. Despite the study design, high exposure to violence and traumatic events in this age group can be considered important factors in triggering mental disorders in this vulnerable age period.
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil. deni_clau@hotmail.com.
Denisse
D
Jaen-Varas
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.|Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
Jair de Jesus
Jde J
Mari
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Evandro da Silva
Eda S
Coutinho
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.
Sérgio Baxter
SB
Andreoli
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.
Maria Ines
MI
Quintana
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.
Marcelo Feijó
MF
de Mello
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.
Rodrigo Affonseca
RA
Bressan
Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 570, São Paulo, SP, 04038-000, Brazil.|London School of Economics and Political Science, Personal Social Services Research Unit, London, United Kingdom.
Wagner Silva
WS
Ribeiro
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult