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European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 6/2015

Open Access 01-06-2015 | Review

Epidemiology of child psychopathology: major milestones

Authors: Frank C. Verhulst, Henning Tiemeier

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 6/2015

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Abstract

Child psychiatric epidemiology has developed rapidly from descriptive, cross-sectional studies in the 1960s to the current large-scale prospective cohorts that unravel aetiological mechanisms. The objective of the study was to give an overview of epidemiological studies that have influenced child psychiatry. A chronological overview of selected major milestone studies was obtained to demonstrate the development of child psychiatric epidemiology, with a more in-depth discussion of findings and methodological issues exemplified in one cohort, the Generation R Study. Epidemiological studies have been successful in describing the frequency and course of child psychiatric problems. The high expectations that biological factors can be used to better explain, diagnose or predict child psychiatric problems have not been met. More ambitious large-scale child psychiatric cohort studies are needed, carefully applying genetics, neuroscience or other molecular research to better understand how the brain produces maladaptive behaviour. Progress will only be attained if the basic sciences are systematically integrated in cohorts with rigorous epidemiological designs rather than hurriedly inserted in child psychiatric studies.
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Metadata
Title
Epidemiology of child psychopathology: major milestones
Authors
Frank C. Verhulst
Henning Tiemeier
Publication date
01-06-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 6/2015
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0681-9

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Erratum to: Six years ahead: a longitudinal analysis regarding course and predictive value of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in children and adolescents