Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among students aged 6~ 16 years old in central Hunan, China

Authors: Yan-Mei Shen, Bella Siu Man Chan, Jian-Bo Liu, Yuan-Yue Zhou, Xi-Long Cui, Yu-Qiong He, Yu-min Fang, Yu-Tao Xiang, Xue-Rong Luo

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Though several epidemiological surveys of psychiatric disorders have been carried out in China, only a few of them are concerned about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in central Hunan and reveal the distribution of common psychiatric disorders and their comorbidities.

Methods

Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID), and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) were administered to a stratified sample of 17,071 participants aged 6 to 16 years old from two cities in the central part of Hunan province. Twelve-month prevalence rates were calculated.

Results

Twelve-month prevalence of the population was 9.74%. The most common psychiatric disorders were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (4.96%), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (2.98%) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (1.77%). Of those with a 12-month prevalence diagnosis, 34.6% had one or more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Most notably, ADHD had comorbidity rates of 25.15% with ODD, 18.18% with CD, 6.38% with GAD, and 3.66% with MDD.

Conclusions

Psychiatric disorders are common in Chinese children and adolescents. Being the most prevalent mental disorder, ADHD requires continued focus and support in awareness and education.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Achenbach TM, Rescorla LA, Ivanova MY. International epidemiology of child and adolescent psychopathology I: diagnoses, dimensions, and conceptual issues. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(12):1261–72.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Hofstra MB, van der Ende J, Verhulst FC. Child and adolescent problems predict DSM-IV disorders in adulthood: a 14-year follow-up of a Dutch epidemiological sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002;41(2):182–9.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Copeland WE, Wolke D, Shanahan L, Costello EJ. Adult Functional Outcomes of Common Childhood Psychiatric Problems: A Prospective, Longitudinal Study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(9):892.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Belfer ML. Child and adolescent mental disorders: the magnitude of the problem across the globe. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49(3):226–36.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Merikangas KR, He J-P, Rapoport J, Vitiello B, Olfson M. Medication use in US youth with mental disorders. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(2):141–8.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Morris J, Belfer M, Daniels A, Flisher A, Villé L, Lora A, Saxena S. Treated prevalence of and mental health services received by children and adolescents in 42 low-and-middle-income countries. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2011;52(12):1239–46.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Ashenafi Y, Kebede D, Desta M, Alem A. Prevalence of mental and behavioural disorders in Ethiopian children. East Afr Med J. 2001;78(6):308–11.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Colonna M, Mitton N, Schott AM, Remontet L, Olive F, Gomez F, Iwaz J, Polazzi S, Bossard N, Trombert B. Prevalence, persistence, and sociodemographic correlates of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(4):372–80.CrossRef
9.
Polanczyk GV, Salum GA, Sugaya LS, Caye A, Rohde LA. Annual research review: a meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):345–65.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Zheng Y, Zheng X. Current state and recent developments of child psychiatry in China. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Ment Health. 2015;9(1):10.CrossRef
11.
Guan B, Luo X, Deng Y, WEI Z, Ye H, Yuan X, Ning Z, Yang W, Ding J. Prevalence of mental disorders among primary and middle school students in Hunan province. J Chin Contemp Pediatr. 2010;12(2):123–7.
12.
Qu Y, Jiang H, Zhang N, Wang D, Guo L. Prevalence of mental disorders in 6-16-year-old students in Sichuan province, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12(5):5090–107.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Wen P. Epidemiological investigation of mental disorders in children and adolescents in Liaoning province. J Chin Med Univ. 2008;
14.
Costello EJ, Burns BJ, Angold A, Leaf PJ. How can epidemiology improve mental health services for children and adolescents? J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993;32(6):1106–17.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Achenbach TM, Ruffle TM. The child behavior checklist and related forms for assessing behavioral/emotional problems and competencies. Pediatr Rev. 2000;21(8):265–71.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Leung PW, Kwong SL, Tang CP, Ho TP, Hung SF, Lee CC, Hong SL, Chiu CM, Liu WS. Test-retest reliability and criterion validity of the Chinese version of CBCL, TRF, and YSR. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006;47(9):970–3.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Achenbach TM: The manual for the child behavior checklist. 1991.
18.
SU L, Li X, Luo X, Yang Z, Wan G. The standardization of Achenbach child behavior checklist in hunan. J Clin Psychosom Dis. 1995;2:66–72.
19.
Sheehan DV, Sheehan KH, Shytle RD, Janavs J, Bannon Y, Rogers JE, Milo KM, Stock SL, Wilkinson B. Reliability and validity of the Mini international neuropsychiatric interview for children and adolescents (MINI-KID). J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(3):313–26.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Sheehan DV, Lecrubier Y, Sheehan KH, Amorim P, Janavs J, Weiller E, Hergueta T, Baker R, Dunbar GC. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.): the development and validation of a structured diagnostic psychiatric interview for DSM-IV and ICD-10. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59(Suppl 20):22.PubMed
21.
Lecrubier Y, Sheehan DV, Weiller E, Amorim P, Bonora I, Sheehan KH, Janavs J, Dunbar GC. The MINI international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI). A short diagnostic structured interview: reliability and validity according to the CIDI. Eur Psychiatry. 1997;12(5):224–31.CrossRef
22.
Mcclellan JM, Werry JS. Evidence-based treatments in child and adolescent psychiatry: an inventory. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003;42(12):1388–400.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Mcclellan JM, Werry JS. Introduction--research psychiatric diagnostic interviews for children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2000;39(1):19–27.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Hughes CW, Rintelmann J, Mayes T, Emslie GJ, Pearson G, Rush AJ. Structured interview and uniform assessment improves diagnostic reliability. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2000;10(10):119–31.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Reich W. Diagnostic interview for children and adolescents (DICA). J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2000;39(1):59–66.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Liu YX, Liu J. Beijing: Reliability and validity of Chinese version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (Parent Version). Chin Ment Health J. 2010;25(1):921–25.
27.
Liu YX, Liu J. Beijing: Reliability and validity of Chinese version of the Mini international neuropsychiatric interview for children and adolescents (child version). Chin Ment Health J. 2011;25(1):8–13.
28.
Frigerio A, Rucci P, Goodman R, Ammaniti M, Carlet O, Cavolina P, De Girolamo G, Lenti C, Lucarelli L, Mani E, et al. Prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among adolescents in Italy: the PrISMA study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009;18(4):217–26.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Einar H, Stormark KM, Lundervold AJ, Mikael H, Robert G, Maj-Britt P, Ullebø AK, Plessen KJ, Ingvar B, Lie SA. Psychiatric disorders in Norwegian 8- to 10-year-olds : an epidemiological survey of prevalence, risk factors, and service use. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46(4):438–47.CrossRef
30.
Kasmini K, Kyaw O, Krishnaswamy S, Ramli H, Hassan S. A prevalence survey of mental disorders among children in a rural Malaysian village. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1993;87(4):253–7.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Benjet C, Borges G, Medina-Mora ME, Zambrano J, Aguilar-Gaxiola S. Youth mental health in a populous city of the developing world: results from the Mexican adolescent mental health survey. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2009;50(4):386–95.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Xiaoli Y, Chao J, Wen P, Wenming X, Fang L, Ning L, Huijuan M, Jun N, Ming L, Xiaoxia A, et al. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in Northeast China. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e111223.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
33.
Srinath S, Girimaji SC, Gururaj G, Seshadri S, Subbakrishna DK, Kumar PBN. Epidemiological study of child & adolescent psychiatric disorders in urban & rural areas of Bangalore, India. Indian J Med Res. 2005;122(12):67–79.PubMed
34.
Goodman R, Slobodskaya H, Knyazev G. Russian child mental health--a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005;14(1):28–33.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Ormel J, Raven D, van Oort F, Hartman CA, Reijneveld SA, Veenstra R, Vollebergh WA, Buitelaar J, Verhulst FC, Oldehinkel AJ. Mental health in Dutch adolescents: a TRAILS report on prevalence, severity, age of onset, continuity and co-morbidity of DSM disorders. Psychol Med. 2015;45(2):345–60.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Coughlan H, Tiedt L, Clarke M, Kelleher I, Tabish J, Molloy C, Harley M, Cannon M. Prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders, deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation in early adolescence: an Irish population-based study. J Adolesc. 2014;37(1):1–9.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Carter AS, Wagmiller RJ, Gray SA, Mccarthy KJ, Horwitz SM, Briggs-Gowan MJ. Prevalence of DSM-IV disorder in a representative, healthy birth cohort at school entry: sociodemographic risks and social adaptation. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;49(7):686.PubMedPubMedCentral
38.
Vicente B, Saldivia S, de la Barra F, Melipillán R, Valdivia M, Kohn R. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Chilean children and adolescents. Rev Med Chil. 2012;140(4):447–57.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Anselmi L, Fleitlich-Bilyk B, Menezes AM, Araujo CL, Rohde LA. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a Brazilian birth cohort of 11-year-olds. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2010;45(1):135–42.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Abou-Saleh MT, Ghubash R, Daradkeh TK. Al Ain Community Psychiatric Survey. I. Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2001;36(1):20.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Prina AM, Ferri CP, Guerra M, Brayne C, Prince M. Co-occurrence of anxiety and depression amongst older adults in low- and middle-income countries: findings from the 10/66 study. Psychol Med. 2011;41(10):2047–56.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Parker G, Gladstone G, Tsee Chee K. Depression in the planet's largest ethnic group: the Chinese. Am J Psychiatr. 2001;158(6):857.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Yang LH. Application of mental illness stigma theory to Chinese societies: synthesis and new directions. Singap Med J. 2007;48(11):977–85.
44.
Reiff MI, Stein MT. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder evaluation and diagnosis: a practical approach in office practice. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2003;50(5):1019–48.CrossRef
45.
Xu J, Wang J, Liu R, Xing J, Su L, Yu F, Lu M. Mental health inpatient treatment expenditure trends in China, 2005-2012: evidence from Shandong. J Mental Health Policy Econ. 2014;17(4):173–82.
46.
Yin H, Xu L, Shao Y, Li L, Wan C. Relationship between suicide rate and economic growth and stock market in the People’s republic of China: 2004–2013. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:3119.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Zhang J, Ma J, Jia C, Sun J, Guo X, Xu A, Li W. Economic growth and suicide rate changes: a case in China from 1982 to 2005. Eur Psychiatry. 2010;25(3):159–63.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Demmer DH, Hooley M, Sheen J, Mcgillivray JA, Lum JAG. Sex differences in the prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder during middle childhood: a meta-analysis. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2017;45(2):1–13.
49.
Waschbusch DA, King S. Should sex-specific norms be used to assess attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or oppositional defiant disorder? J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006;74(1):179–85.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Hasson R, Fine JG. Gender differences among children with ADHD on continuous performance tests: a meta-analytic review. J Atten Disord. 2012;16(3):190.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Eme RF. Sex differences in child-onset, life-course-persistent conduct disorder. A review of biological influences. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007;27(5):607–27.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Liu L, Cheng J, Li H, Su Y, Sun L, Yang L, Qian Q, Wang Y. Association of Y-linked variants with impulsivity and aggression in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder of Chinese Han descent. Psychiatry Res. 2017;252:185.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Derks EM, Dolan CV, Hudziak JJ, Neale MC, Boomsma DI. Assessment and etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in boys and girls. Behav Genet. 2007;37(4):559–66.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
54.
55.
56.
Cover KK, Maeng LY, Lebrónmilad K, Milad MR. Mechanisms of estradiol in fear circuitry: implications for sex differences in psychopathology. Transl Psychiatry. 2014;4(8):e422.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
57.
Wong CM, Yehuda R, Lewishall F, Williams TS, Panetta JA, Herrera JM: Sex differences in posttraumatic stress disorder. 2002.
58.
Young E, Korszun A: Women, stress, and depression: sex differences in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation. 1999.
59.
Spencer TJ. ADHD and comorbidity in childhood. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;67(Suppl 8):27–31.PubMed
60.
Jensen CM, Steinhausen H-C. Comorbid mental disorders in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a large nationwide study. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2015;7(1):27–38.CrossRefPubMed
61.
Reale L, Bartoli B, Cartabia M, Zanetti M, Costantino MA, Canevini MP, Termine C, Bonati M, Lombardy AG. Comorbidity prevalence and treatment outcome in children and adolescents with ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(12):1443–57.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Heidbreder R. ADHD symptomatology is best conceptualized as a spectrum: a dimensional versus unitary approach to diagnosis. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2015;7(4):249–69.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Klassen LJ, Katzman MA, Chokka P. Adult ADHD and its comorbidities, with a focus on bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2010;124(1):1–8.CrossRefPubMed
64.
Biederman J. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a selective overview. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57(11):1215–20.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Connor DF, Doerfler LA. ADHD with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder: discrete or nondistinct disruptive behavior disorders? J Atten Disord. 2008;12(2):126–34.CrossRefPubMed
66.
Burke JD, Loeber R, Lahey BB, Rathouz PJ. Developmental transitions among affective and behavioral disorders in adolescent boys. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2005;46(11):1200–10.CrossRefPubMed
67.
Lahey BB, Loeber R, Burke J, Rathouz PJ, Mcburnett K. Waxing and waning in concert: dynamic comorbidity of conduct disorder with other disruptive and emotional problems over 7 years among clinic-referred boys. J Abnorm Psychol. 2014;111(4):556–67.CrossRef
68.
Nadder TS, Rutter M, Silberg JL, Maes HH, Eaves LJ. Genetic effects on the variation and covariation of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional-defiant disorder/conduct disorder (Odd/CD) symptomatologies across informant and occasion of measurement. Psychol Med. 2002;32(1):39–53.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Pliszka SR, Carlson CL, Swanson JM. ADHD with comorbid disorders: clinical assessment and management. New York: Guilford Press; 1999.
70.
Taurines R, Schmitt J, Renner T, Conner AC, Warnke A, Romanos M. Developmental comorbidity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2010;2(4):267–89.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among students aged 6~ 16 years old in central Hunan, China
Authors
Yan-Mei Shen
Bella Siu Man Chan
Jian-Bo Liu
Yuan-Yue Zhou
Xi-Long Cui
Yu-Qiong He
Yu-min Fang
Yu-Tao Xiang
Xue-Rong Luo
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1823-7

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

BMC Psychiatry 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research article

Factors influencing early withdrawal from a drug and alcohol treatment program and client perceptions of successful recovery and employment: a qualitative study

Research article

Psychotropic medication use among patients with celiac disease

Research article

Anxiety and its predictive value for pain and regular analgesic intake after lumbar disc surgery - a prospective observational longitudinal study

Research article

Is intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen associated with emotional and hyperactivity problems during childhood? Findings from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort

Research article

Binge eating disorder and depressive symptoms among females of child-bearing age: the Korea Nurses' Health Study

Research article

Sequential treatment of ADHD in mother and child (AIMAC study): importance of the treatment phases for intervention success in a randomized trial