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 eti ology 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, an d 18 years completed a fourth interview assessing mental disorders and func tional impairments at age 25 years. Results: The overall 6-month prevalence rate of mental disorders in early adulthood was 18.4%. Conduct disorders a nd substance abuse were more common in males, whereas affective disorders a nd psychosomatic disordes were more common in females. A comorbidity rate o f 45 % was found. Longitudinal comparisons showed clearly that the rates of disorders change differentially in males end females. Conclusions: This st udy adds important findings on our knowledge of developmental changes in ra tes of mental disorders by sex, bridging the gap between research in adoles cence and adulthood.