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The changing mental health of children and adolescents: evidence for a deterioration?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Jonathan Prosser  and
Paul McArdle
Jonathan Prosser
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Paul McArdle*
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Paul McArdle, Department of Child Psychiatry, 1 Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 3AH.
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Synopsis

This paper reviews the evidence for changing patterns of mental health over time in childhood and youth in Western societies. The evidence suggests that the prevalence of major depression, substance abuse and offending behaviour, as well as the incidence of suicide, is increasing in adolescent populations, particularly among males. There are also indications that problem behaviours among younger children are becoming more common. There is no evidence of a deterioration in the adjustment of the pre-school population.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , July 1996 , pp. 715 - 725
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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