Mental Disorders are Increasing among Children and Adolescents in Sweden – a Nationwide Study with Focus on Gender Differences

Abstract

Introduction

An increasing number of young people in Sweden are diagnosed with mental disorders and there appears to be significant gender differences in disease pattern.

Objective

To more thoroughly characterize the increase in mental disorders among young people with focus on gender differences.

Aim

To increase the knowledge of age and sex-specific trends in incidence and prevalence rates of mental disorders among children and adolescents.

Method

Data on psychiatric diagnoses for the last 10 years were obtained from Swedish national registers held by the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden.

Results

Neuropsychiatric, depressive and anxiety disorders have increased markedly among young people the last decade. In addition, men are increasingly diagnosed with substance-related disorders whereas women with borderline personality disorder.

Conclusion

The increase in mental disorders among young people is marked and disease affects men and women differently. Because of greater awareness today, some conditions like ADHD are more frequently diagnosed. However, the increase in depressive and anxiety disorders appears genuine and represents an additional challenge.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.