Mental health issues found rife in young
CHICAGO — Almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs, researchers reported Monday in the most extensive study of its kind.
The disorders include such problems as obsessive or compulsive tendencies and antisocial behavior that can sometimes lead to violence. The study also found that fewer than 25 percent of college-aged Americans with mental problems get treatment.
Experts praised the study’s scope — face-to-face interviews about numerous disorders with more than 5,000 young people ages 19 to 25.
Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University, the study’s coauthor, called the widespread lack of treatment particularly worrisome. He said it should alert not only “students and parents but also deans and people who run college mental health services about the need to extend access to treatment.”
Counting substance abuse, the study found that nearly half of young people surveyed have some sort of psychiatric condition.
Personality disorders were the second most common problem behind drug or alcohol abuse as a single category. The disorders include obsessive, anti-social and paranoid behaviors.
The study was released Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry. It was based on interviews with 5,092 young adults in 2001 and 2002.
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