The introduction of the concept of disability-adjusted life years (DALYS), which estimates the disease-specific reduction in life expectancy attributable to disability and increased mortality, has highlighted the dramatic public health impact of mental disorders.84 By the year 2020, it is estimated that psychiatric and neurologic disorders will account for 15% of the total burden of all diseases. Although the global burden of mental disorders has not been examined in a nationally representative sample of youth in the US, studies in other countries such as the UK have examined both the impact or consequences of mental disorders on the child and the burden on others.85 However, because impairment is an important, criterion for the diagnosis of disorders in children, the prevalence estimates of childhood disorders generally reflect the impact of these conditions as well.40-86
