However, care must be used in prescribing and monitoring all medication. Special forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, have proved effective for adolescents with depression, and current studies are evaluating the effectiveness of individual, family, and group therapies for young people. A current multi-site study of adolescents who are depressed is evaluating the comparative effectiveness of medication, psychosocial, or combined treatments. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems that occur in children and adolescents. Research on the safety and efficacy of these treatments is ongoing.
Research shows that ADHD tends to run in families.
Its core symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility, and impulsivity. Children with ADHD usually have impaired functioning in peer relationships and multiple settings including home and school. A multisite study of children with ADHD recently concluded that the two most effective treatment modalities for elementary school children with ADHD are a closely monitored medication treatment and a treatment that combines medication with intensive behavioral interventions. Another study, jointly funded by the NIMH and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has shown that boys with ADHD who are treated with stimulants are significantly less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol when they get older. In the U.S., eating disorders are most common among adolescent and young women.