Common Risk Factors of Depressive and Anxiety Symptomatics in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review from Transdiagnostic Perspectives

Common causes of mental disorders are revealed by transdiagnostic perspectives. In this context, based on the study of Epkins and Heckler, the present study investigates common risk factors in depressive and anxiety symptomatics of children and adolescents. In a systematic literature search between 2012 and 2014, 35 studies were identified which demonstrated 44 common risk factors in internalising symptomatics in childhood and adolescence. Female gender, the onset of puberty, compliance with chronic illness, increased stress experience of children and mothers, negative parenting, misuse or rejective experiences in peers are evident factors in the developmental psychopathology of depression and anxiety disorders in childhood or adolescence. These common risk factors suggest a similar treatment of these diseases.