Anxiety, Depression, and Behavioral and/or Conduct Disorder in Adolescence Among Former Preterm and Term Infants of Different Race and Ethnicities

Prevalence of Mental Health Diagnoses Among Early Adolescents Before and During Foster Care

“…We note that Black early adolescents had higher rates of diagnosis for disruptive disorders and lower rates for anxiety and adjustment disorders. Given the stigma of disruptive disorder diagnoses-and their potential to limit children's options for family-based FC placement-future research is needed on whether these patterns are found in other states and to assess for bias in the interpretation or characterization of symptoms 16,17 by individuals within the child welfare system (foster or kinship caregivers and congregate care providers) and/or the health care system.…”

“…In addition, there are documented concerns regarding disproportionate and overidentification of highly stigmatized conditions, such as conduct disorder among Black adolescents in the general population. 16 This may result from characterizing normative adolescent behaviors as disobedient or threatening at a clinical level when exhibited by Black children 16,17 or inadequate consideration of differential diagnoses that explain the cause of behaviors, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the status of FC may prime medical providers to better assess for trauma, earlier research (largely from the 2000s) found that racial and ethnic minority youth in FC were less likely than White youth to receive MH services.…”