Complex Medical Conditions Drive Children’s Mental Health Problems
The odds of a mental health diagnosis in children with chronic medical conditions increased stepwise based on the severity of their illness, according to data from nearly 3 million children...
In a retrospective study, the researchers examined data from children aged 5-17 years with at least 11 months of continuous Medicaid enrollment in 2022 based on the Merative MarketScan Medicaid Database. The study population included 2.9 million children, categorized into noncomplex nonchronic (NCNC) conditions, noncomplex chronic (NCC) conditions, and complex chronic conditions (CCC).
Overall, 310,000 (10.6%) of the children had a mental health diagnosis, and the rates increased stepwise with increasing severity and chronicity of disease: 7.6%, 16.0%, and 20% for the NCNC, NCC, and CCC groups, respectively. The most common mental health diagnoses were trauma/stressor disorders, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders, accounting for 5.3%, 4.6%, and 4.3%, respectively.
Yeah, this doesn't get lower as we age...
