Treatment Rates for Mental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Mental disorders in children and adolescents represent a significant global health challenge.
• Published research shows inconsistent findings regarding the treatment rates for these conditions.
• Estimating combined treatment rates is crucial for understanding the scope of the issue.

Approach:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, searching major databases up to September 2022.
• Studies reporting validated treatment rates for common childhood mental disorders were included.
• Data were synthesized using random-effects models, with subgroup analyses exploring influencing factors.

Key Points:

• The pooled treatment rate for any mental disorder was 38%, with specific rates for depressive disorders (36%), anxiety disorders (31%), ADHD (58%), and behavior disorders (49%).
• Treatment rates varied significantly by age, income level, and geographic region.
• Adolescents had higher treatment rates for depression, while children had higher rates for anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Overall treatment rates for mental disorders among children and adolescents are notably low, especially for depression and anxiety.
• Significant disparities in treatment rates exist based on socioeconomic and regional factors.
• Developing targeted intervention policies and effective measures is essential to improve psychiatric care access for youth.