By the age of 75, every second person had or is suffering from at least one mental illness. This is shown by data from more than 150,000 adults from 29 countries. Professor John McGrath of the University of Queensland said: "The most common were mood disorders such as major depression or anxiety. However, we found that there is a gender difference in risk for certain mental disorders.”

The three most common mental disorders in women were depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, while alcoholism, depression and anxiety disorders were the most common in men. In addition, a study in the journal "The Lancet Psychiatry" shows that mental disorders usually appear in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood: "The highest age at onset was 15 years, the average age for men and women onset was 19 years." 20 years for women,” McGrath explained.

He believes more investment in basic neuroscience research is needed to understand what causes these disorders. Mental health also needs to be improved, with a particular focus on young people, his colleague Professor Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School added: "By understanding the age at which these disorders are most prevalent, we can design public health interventions." Shaping health so that they adapt and direct resources.” . adequate and timely support for risk groups.

Quelle: DOI 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00193-1