A survey conducted from year 2001 to 2004 among a sample of around 3000 children from age group of 8-15 years, provides a comprehensive look at the rates of six common mental disorders: anxiety disorder, panic disorder, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder.

About 13 percent of adolescents in US are suffering from mental illness but are unaware of it. On this NIMH researcher Dr. Kathleen R. Merikangas said, “There is a severe shortage of mental health professionals with expertise in child psychiatry in the US. There simply aren't enough child psychiatrists to go around. It's an urgent crisis".

The study revealed that out of all the subjects studied, 8.6 percent had ADHD but more boys rather than girls have this problem; 3.7 percent had depression with girls more likely than boys to have the disorder; 2.1 percent had conduct disorder; 0.7 percent had an anxiety disorder; and 0.1 percent had an eating disorder.

ADHD was mostly found in the children from lower socioeconomic dector. Whereas, anxiety was most common in children from higher class. Mood disorders were found in Mexican-Americans more than whites.

“Anxiety and depression are the most neglected problems”, reported Dr. Kathleen R. Merikangas.