Change in Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders From Ages 21 to 30 in a Community Sample

• Published in: The journal of nervous and mental disease Vol. 195; no. 4; pp. 298 - 306
• Main Authors: Tanner, Jennifer L, Reinherz, Helen Z, Beardslee, William R, Fitzmaurice, Garrett M, Leis, Julie A, Berger, Sasha R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-04-2007; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; At risk youth; Biological and medical sciences; Data Collection; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Fear & phobias; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mood disorders; New England - epidemiology; Phobia; Phobic Disorders - diagnosis; Phobic Disorders - epidemiology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sex Factors; Social Class; Socioeconomic factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; New England; Human; Mood disorder; Drug addiction; Posttraumatic syndrome; Prevalence; Anxiety disorder; Depression; substance use disorder; Substance abuse; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Epidemiology; Stress; PTSD; emerging adult; Phobia; Mental disorder; Adult; Age; Public health
• ISSN: 0022-3018; 1539-736X
• DOI: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000261952.13887.6e

The authors examined change and demonstrated variation in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders from ages 21 to 30 in a prospective community study (n = 352) using generalized estimating equations and investigated effects of past and recent psychiatric disorder on emerging adult functioning (at age 30). Results revealed significant declines in 12-month prevalence of phobia and substance use disorders from ages 21 to 30 but not in depression or posttraumatic stress disorder. Males were at significantly higher risk for lifetime substance use disorders; females were at higher risk for lifetime depression, phobia, and PTSD. Twelve-month and lifetime disorder were associated with impaired global functioning at age 30. Internalizing disorders were associated with impaired interpersonal functioning, whereas externalizing disorders were associated with impaired socioeconomic functioning. Results of this study have implications for mental health service planning in emerging adulthood.