Nearly half of U.S. children with mental disorders are not seeking mental health professional for their disorder, according to a Pediatrics study published on Dec. 14.
While 55 percent of studied children had seen a mental health professional, only 32 percent of those with anxiety got treatment. The study also found that mental problems associated with depression and anxiety often goes untreated, or even undiagnosed.
The study examined 3,042 youths ages aged 8 to 15 whose families participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2004, reports HealthDaily News. Thirteen percent of those children had at least one mental disorder. Nearly 2 percent had a combination of mental issues, mostly including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHA) and a conduct disorder.
The study, which looked at six mental health problems – generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, eating disorders, depression, ADHD and conduct disorder – also found that 8.6 percent of participants had ADHD. The hyperactivity affected more boys than girls.
The study also showed that 3.7 percent had depression, which was more common among girls. In addition, 2.1 percent had a conduct disorder. Those from a lower socioeconomic background had an increased probability of having a disorder like ADHD, while children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds more commonly had an anxiety disorder.
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