Authors

  1. Section Editor(s): Kennedy, Maureen Shawn MA, RN

Article Content

Nearly 50% of college-aged youths had a psychiatric disorder within the past year, but fewer than 25% sought treatment for it. Such were the findings of an analysis of the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions published in the December 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Investigators analyzed the responses of 5,092 19-to-25-year-olds-more than half of whom had not attended college in the past year. Among college students, the most prevalent psychiatric disorders involved alcohol use disorders (20.4%), followed by personality disorders (17.7%). Among those who didn't attend college, personality disorders were most prevalent (21.6%) followed by nicotine dependence (20.7%). The prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders was also high in both groups. In light of the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the low percentage of youths seeking treatment, greater efforts to develop intervention programs are needed.