DSM-IV disorders are highly prevalent and persistent among US adolescents

Question

What is the prevalence and persistence of commonly occurring Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) disorders among US adolescents?

Population: 10 148 US adolescents aged 13–17 years taking part in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), a national survey of adolescent DSM-IV disorders. School dropouts, homeless individuals and non-English speakers were excluded. The sample is representative of the US population in this age range.

Setting

USA; from February 2001 to January 2004.

Assessment

DSM-IV disorders were assessed using a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview administered during a face-to-face interview. Assessed disorders included: mood disorders (major depressive disorder or dysthymia, bipolar I or II disorder), anxiety disorders (panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, agoraphobia without panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder), behavioural disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder oppositional-defiant disorder, conduct disorder), eating (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder) and substance disorders (alcohol and drug abuse, alcohol and drug dependence with abuse). …