Mental disorders for almost one million adolescents, alarm bells ringing

Almost 1 million 10-19 year olds in Italia (about 1 in 7) have signs that can be traced back to a psychological disorder, a condition that accounts for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. In addition to these, there are neurodevelopmental disorders: 600,000 people live with autism spectrum disorders and about 6% of children suffer from Adhd (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). These are the data highlighted by the Italian Society of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry (Sinpia) and the Italian Society of Neuropsychopharmacology (Sinpf), who are meeting today for their joint congress in Cagliari.

The event, involving over 500 experts, focuses on the importance of early treatment and the need to build continuous care pathways between childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In fact, evidence of the importance of early treatment is growing: a study recently published in the journal Jama Psychiatry, for example, showed that in children who receive a diagnosis of Adhd before the age of 13, treatment reduces the risk of developing psychosis in adulthood by around 21-24% compared to those who do not receive treatment.

'This study highlights the importance of early intervention by suggesting the existence of a sensitive neurodevelopmental window in childhood during which effects are observed that are not replicated in adults treated with the same drug,' explains Giovanni Migliarese, psychiatrist director of the Lomellina Mental Health Complex at the Asst of Pavia. "Neurodevelopmental disorders increase the risk of developing anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, as well as negatively affecting quality of life, school and work pathways, and the ability to self-fulfilment," emphasises Sara Carucci, associate professor at the University of Cagliari and director of the 'Arnas Brotzu' Child Neuropsychiatry Clinic. "These results represent an important element for clinical practice: they underline that there is an optimal developmental stage to intervene and confirm that early diagnosis and timely treatment of Adhd also have a favourable impact on the prevention of serious psychopathologies such as psychosis in adulthood," she concludes.