Common mental health problems in childhood and adolescence: the broad and varied landscape.

摘要

Approximately one in 10 children is affected by mental health problems at any time (Ford et al. 2003). These high rates of problems emerge across high-income, and increasingly low-and middle-income, countries (Cortina et al. 2008). The range of mental health problems is broad, and varies with developmental changes through infancy, childhood and adolescence. The commoner disorders in childhood and adolescence include conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autistic spectrum disorders, depression and the range of anxiety disorders (Green et al. 2005). The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services emphasized that the mental health of the next generation was 'everybody's business' (Department of Health 2004).