Prevalence of mental health problems among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the BELLA study within the National Health Interview and Examination Survey

Abstract

The observed prevalence of mental health problems as well as their large impact on well-being and functioning calls for early prevention. This is especially important with regard to the large decrease in HRQoL in the children and adolescents affected.

Trauma, exile and mental health in young refugees

“…In a major prospective study of a probability sample of 4175 11-17-year-olds in the US, 17% fulfilled the criteria for a mental illness (171), and in ÔThe National Comorbidity SurveyÕ (48), 16% of the 12-17-year-old boys and 19% of the girls fulfilled the criteria for at least one of the diagnoses of PTSD, depression or drug abuse. In a representative population of children and adolescents in Germany (172, 173), 18.5% of the 3-17-year-olds scored within the clinical or borderline area (174), and 14.5% of the 7-17-year-olds had at least one specific psychological symptom associated with reduction of function (175). In a twophase epidemiological study in the Netherlands including four different ethnic groups from a population of 2041 6-10-year-olds, 11% of the children had one or more impairing psychiatric disorders, which did not differ between native Dutch and immigrant children (176).…”

The contribution of the BELLA study in filling the gap of knowledge on mental health and well-being in children and adolescents in Germany

“…Thus -based on the results of the BELLA study -only approximately 25% of the parents of affected children and adolescents make use of the offer of counselling or treatment indicating that mental health problems may be inadequately attended to [15].…”

“…The prevalence rates of mental health problems are presented as a main result of the BELLA study [15], followed by a contribution by Hoelling et al [8] on the assessment of psychopathological symptoms using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in the KiGGS study. After this, Wille et al [18] describe the level of impairment of children and adolescents due to mental health problems.…”

Epidemiologie psychischer Störungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

“…Review-Arbeiten betonen die große Unterschiedlichkeit der diagnostischen Verfahren, der StichprobenAuswahl sowie der Falldefinition, die die Vergleichbarkeit von Studien stark einschränkt [7]. In diese Studie wurden daher 41 [6,[9][10][11].…”

“…In der deutschen BELLA-Studie berichteten 6,1 % der befragten 11-bis 17-Jährigen von problematischem Alkoholkonsum, sowie 3,5 % von regelmäßigem Drogenkonsum [11], in einem großen US-amerikanischen Sample berichteten 8,3 % der befragten Jugendlichen (13-18 Jahre) über problematischen Substanzkonsum innerhalb des letzten Jahres [12]. In beiden Stichproben war die Zahl der männlichen Jugendlichen mit Konsumproblemen höher.…”