5.3.1 Continuities and Transitions


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Continuities and Transitions of Child Mental Health Conditions Into Adult Life

There is significant evidence to suggest that child mental health conditions can continue into adulthood, with implications for long-term mental health outcomes. For example, a study by Breslau and colleagues (2011) found that individuals with early-onset anxiety disorders were at a higher risk of developing a range of mental health disorders later in life, including major depression, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. Similarly, a review by Moffitt and colleagues (2010) found that childhood conduct disorder was associated with a range of negative outcomes in adulthood, including criminal behaviour, substance abuse, and poor physical health.

However, there is also evidence that some children with mental health conditions experience a reduction in symptoms or remission as they transition into adulthood. For example, a study by Fergusson and colleagues (2005) found that a significant proportion of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) no longer met the criteria for the disorder by the time they reached adulthood.

Overall, the continuity or transition of a child’s mental health condition into adulthood can depend on a range of factors, including the specific condition, the severity of symptoms, and the presence of other risk factors such as trauma or socioeconomic disadvantage. Understanding the continuity or transition of a child’s mental health conditions is important for informing prevention and intervention efforts aimed at promoting positive mental health outcomes across the lifespan.

References:

  1. Breslau, J., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Kendler, K. S., Su, M., Williams, D., & Kessler, R. C. (2011). Specifying race-ethnic differences in risk for psychiatric disorder in a USA national sample. Psychological Medicine, 41(11), 2317–2328. doi: 10.1017/S0033291711000384
  2. Fergusson, D. M., Boden, J. M., & Horwood, L. J. (2005). Examining the antecedents of persistence and desistance in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A 45-year longitudinal study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(7), 718-726. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00387.x
  3. Moffitt, T. E., Arseneault, L., Jaffee, S. R., Kim-Cohen, J., Koenen, K. C., Odgers, C. L., … & Viding, E. (2010). Research review: DSM-V conduct disorder: research needs for an evidence base. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51(1), 36-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02183.x