A FRIGHTENING TREND : 20% OF US CHILDREN SUFFER MENTAL DISORDERS. OVERDIAGNOSIS OR REAL TREND?

 

According to new data, almost one fifth of all US children are afflicted with some type of mental disorder.  

The number has risen dramatically in the past decade, according to data tallied by the CDC.  

The data is in regards to cases in children between the age of 3 to 17.  It appears that at least 20% of all children are afflicted and the overall cost of managing such disorders has risen to 247$ million a year. 

The disorders that were included in the tally were ones that caused severe disruption in the the pattern of behavior in the children in emotional, learning and expression patterns.  

The research found that most of the illnesses were diagnosed during the school years, but some were made even earlier. 

The data examined a period between 2005 and 2011.  ADHD was found to be the most frequently observed disorder.  Males were more likely to have the disorder, together with other behavioral and emotional problem, including anxiety.  Suicide was also more prevalent in boys in the middle to late teens.  Depression and alcohol abuse was instead more prevalent in girls. 

The directive then, is to plan for such an onslaught. Without proper management of these cases, there could be critical problems in the future in both making these children part of the societal picture and in the treatment and control of their behavior. 

Another important directive is to assess the validity of diagnostic tools by both professionals and school personnel.  More importantly, if the trend is real, that an assessment be made as to the source of the increase.  Some scientists have doubted the trend and pointed their finger at mismanagement of cases, or over prescription of medications. 
 

Partial Source: MNT  5.19.13