Prevalence, comorbidity, and gender differences of mental disorders from childhood to early adulthood

Background: The Mannheim ACCA study was designed to provide data on the etiology and course of mental disorders from childhood to adulthood. Objective: To examine age- and gender-specific 6-month and lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders; and to examine comorbidity and functional impairments. Method: 321 (80 %) participants who had been interviewed at age 8, 13, and 18 years completed a fourth interview assessing mental disorders and functional impairments at age 25 years. Results: The overall 6-month prevalence rate of mental disorders in early adulthood was 18.4%. Conduct disorders and substance abuse were more common in males, whereas affective disorders and psychosomatic disordes were more common in females. A comorbidity rate of 45 % was found. Longitudinal comparisons showed clearly that the rates of disorders change differentially in males end females. Conclusions: This study adds important findings on our knowledge of developmental changes in rates of mental disorders by sex, bridging the gap between research in adolescence and adulthood.