Abstract

The correlation between exposure to forms of violence and development of mental disorders in victims is well established. The purpose of this paper was to identify mental health problems in an adolescent medicine clinic population in Lexington, KY and to investigate potential correlation of mental disorders with psychosocial factors. Data were gathered from the charts of 169 adolescent clinic patients (age 10-22) seen in the clinic for mental health care and analyzed using Excel. Of the patient population, 68% were urban, whereas 32% were rural. In terms of gender, 40% of the patients were male and 60% were female, 80% were white, 13% black, and 7% had other racial background(s). The most prevalent mental disorders in this group were depression 32.12%, 13% with generalized anxiety disorder, 8.2% with an attention deficit disorder (including ADHD), and 5.76% with an adjustment disorder. The abovementioned demographic trends showed that depression continues to be the most common mental health problem in this population regardless of gender, ethnic origin, or economic status. This finding highlights the need for availability of mental health support to this patient population. Further work is needed to spotlight the most significant psychosocial factors and root causes of mental health conditions in this age group.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2009

Notes/Citation Information

Published in International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, v. 21, no. 1, p. 9-14.

© Freund Publishing House Ltd.

The copyright holder has granted permission for posting the article here.

Reprinted as a book chapter in Mental Health from an International Perspective. Joav Merrick, Shoshana Aspler, & Mohammed Morad, (Eds.). p. 187-192.

Reprinted as a book chapter in Rural Child Health: International Aspects. Erica Bell, & Joav Merrick, (Eds.). p. 237-242.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/IJAMH.2009.21.1.9

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