Читать книгу Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology - Robert Weis - Страница 47

Children’s disorders tend to occur together. Comorbidity refers to the presentation of two or more disorders in the same person at the same time. On average, approximately 40% of children and adolescents with one mental disorder have at least one other condition (Merikangas & He, 2014). Certain disorders show high comorbidity in children and adolescents. For example, 75% of youths with depression also experience an anxiety disorder that interferes with their daily functioning (Cummings, Caporino, & Kendall, 2014). Approximately 50% of young children with ADHD also exhibit conduct problems, such as oppositional and defiant behavior toward parents or other adults (Pliszka, 2015). For many mental health problems, comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception in children.

Psychological disorders negatively affect the lives of children and families. The total cost of child and adolescent mental health care in the United States is approximately $247 billion annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016b). Children with mental health problems need evidence-based interventions, such as counseling and/or medication, to help them manage their symptoms and improve their functioning. Children’s mental health problems can also compromise their caregivers’ well-being, leading to reduced productivity at work and increased tension at home. The cost to communities is also enormous. Societal costs include rehabilitation for youths with conduct problems, drug and alcohol counseling for youths with substance use disorders, and family supervision and reunification services for youths who experience maltreatment. School districts must pay for special education services for children with cognitive, learning, and behavior problems that interfere with their ability to benefit from regular education. Preventing childhood disorders would spare families suffering and save communities money. Unfortunately, prevention remains an underutilized approach to dealing with child and adolescent psychopathology in the United States (Forbes, Rapee, & Krueger, 2020).

Review

 Prevalence refers to the percentage of children in a given population with a disorder. Incidence refers to the percentage of new cases of a disorder in a discrete period of time.

 Between 13% and 15% of youths experience a psychological disorder each year; 20% of youths experience a disorder before reaching adulthood. The most common disorders in children are ADHD and anxiety disorders.

 Approximately 40% of youths with one disorder have another (comorbid) disorder.