At What Age Does Mental Illness Start?
Across all mental disorders, the average age of onset was 14.5 years.
At What Age Does Mental Illness Start? | Psychology Today
Knowing at what age mental illness typically starts is highly important information for psychologists. When it is known when a disorder typically starts, early prevention measures and early interventions can be conducted at the right time. This improves the long-term well-being of the patient compared to a situation where therapy started years after the beginning of a disorder.
At What Age Does Mental Illness Start? | Psychology Today
In a second step, the scientists also analyzed the age of onset for different forms of mental disorders. In ascending peak age on onset, here is what they found:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders: 5.5 years
- Anxiety and phobias: 5.5 years
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 14.5 years
- Eating disorders: 15.5 years
- Stress disorders: 15.5 years
- Addiction: 19.5 years
- Schizophrenia: 20.5 years
- Personality disorders: 20.5 years
- Depression and other forms of mood disorders: 20.5 years
