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Mental disorders in young adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2008

J. Suvisaari ,
T. Aalto-Setälä ,
A. Tuulio-Henriksson ,
T. Härkänen ,
S. I. Saarni ,
J. Perälä ,
M. Schreck ,
A. Castaneda ,
J. Hintikka  and
L. Kestilä
...Show all authors
J. Suvisaari*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland Department of Social Psychiatry, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
T. Aalto-Setälä
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland Helsinki University Central Hospital, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry
A. Tuulio-Henriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
T. Härkänen
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
S. I. Saarni
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
J. Perälä
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
M. Schreck
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
A. Castaneda
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
J. Hintikka
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland Department of Psychiatry, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland
L. Kestilä
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
S. Lähteenmäki
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
A. Latvala
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
S. Koskinen
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
M. Marttunen
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
H. Aro
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
J. Lönnqvist
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: J. Suvisaari, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland. (Email: jaana.suvisaari@ktl.fi)
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Abstract

Background

The effect of mental disorders may be particularly detrimental in early adulthood, and information on mental disorders and their correlates in this age group is important.

Method

A questionnaire focusing on mental health was sent to a nationally representative two-stage cluster sample of 1863 Finns aged 19 to 34 years. Based on a mental health screen, all screen-positives and a random sample of screen-negatives were asked to participate in a mental health assessment, consisting of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) interview and neuropsychological assessment. We also obtained case-notes from all lifetime mental health treatments. This paper presents prevalences, sociodemographic associations and treatment contacts for current and lifetime mental disorders.

Results

Forty percent of these young Finnish adults had at least one lifetime DSM-IV Axis I disorder, and 15% had a current disorder. The most common lifetime disorders were depressive disorders (17.7%) followed by substance abuse or dependence (14.2%) and anxiety disorders (12.6%). Of persons with any lifetime Axis I disorder, 59.2% had more than one disorder. Lower education and unemployment were strongly associated with current and lifetime disorders, particularly involving substance use. Although 58.3% of persons with a current Axis I disorder had received treatment at some point, only 24.2% had current treatment contact. However, 77.1% of persons with a current Axis I disorder who felt in need of treatment for mental health problems had current treatment contact.

Conclusions

Mental disorders in young adulthood are common and often co-morbid, and they may be particularly harmful for education and employment in this age group.

Keywords

Mental disordersprevalencesociodemographic factorstreatmentyoung adults
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , February 2009 , pp. 287 - 299
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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