5.3.1 Continuities and Transitions

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