Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Summary
Psychiatric disorders frequently emerge during childhood or adolescence, a period marked by rapid neurobiological, emotional and social development. Anxiety and depressive disorders rank among the most prevalent, often co-occurring with behavioural conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Early onset of these conditions can disrupt academic performance, family functioning and peer relations, with long-term impacts on educational attainment and social integration. Genetic predisposition interacts with environmental factors—including family stress, adverse childhood experiences and socio-economic disadvantage—to shape individual trajectories. Neurobiological research highlights dysregulation of stress-response systems, neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter pathways. Sociocultural influences, digital media exposure and the stresses of modern schooling further contribute to symptom onset and maintenance. The multifaceted nature of these disorders demands integrated strategies encompassing early identification, psychosocial interventions and, where appropriate, pharmacotherapy. School and community settings provide critical platforms for screening and intervention, emphasising the importance of collaborative models that engage educators, healthcare providers and families to promote resilience and ensure timely access to care.
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Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Comorbidity: The co-occurrence of two or more psychiatric disorders in the same individual.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): A protein that supports neuronal growth and synaptic plasticity, often measured as a biomarker of neural health.
Cortisol: A steroid hormone released in response to stress, used as an indicator of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity.
Screening instrument: A standardised questionnaire or tool designed to identify individuals at risk for psychiatric symptoms.
Separation anxiety disorder: A condition characterised by excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures.
Prevalence: The proportion of a population that exhibits a disorder at a given point or period.
References
- Association between Psychopathological Symptoms and Aggression and Selected Biochemical Parameters in Adolescents with Behavioural and Emotional Disturbances. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Prevalence of and risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms in a large sample of Chinese adolescents in the post-COVID-19 era. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (2021).
- Empowering teachers to screen, guide, and refer schoolchildren with behavioral and mental health problems. A pilot study to promote mental health in Iran. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022).
- A survey of Psychiatric Disorders and Their Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents. Galen Medical Journal (2023).
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