Cited by 215Mental Health Treatment and AccessSchizophrenia research and treatmentChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 44 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Long-term effects of mental disorders on educational attainment in the National Comorbidity Survey ten-year follow-up

Open access

Abstract

PurposeThe study sought to examine the association of mental disorders with educational attainment in a community sample.MethodsData were from 5001 respondents aged 15–54 in the 1990–1992 National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), re-interviewed in the 2001–2003 NCS follow-up (NCS-2). Discrete-time survival analysis was used to examine the association of disorders present at baseline (NCS) or having first onset after the baseline (assessed in NCS-2) with educational outcomes among 3954 eligible respondents. Mental disorders were categorized into internalizing fear disorders (simple phobia, social phobia, panic disorder with/without agoraphobia and agoraphobia without panic disorder), internalizing anxiety-misery disorders (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder), externalizing disorders (alcohol and drug use disorders, conduct disorder) and bipolar disorder. Analyses were conducted separately in students and non-students at baseline.ResultsAmong students, baseline bipolar and externalizing disorders, as well as fear, anxiety-misery and externalizing disorders with onset after baseline were associated with lower odds of high school graduation; baseline anxiety-misery disorders with lower odds of going to college; and baseline externalizing disorders and bipolar disorder with onset after baseline with lower odds of college graduation. Among non-students, baseline fear disorders were associated with lower odds of high school graduation and bipolar disorder with lower odds of going to college. Assuming that the regression coefficients represent causal effects, mental disorders accounted for 5.8–11.0 % of high school and 3.2–11.4 % of college non-completion.ConclusionsExpanding access to mental health services for youth might have a net positive societal value by helping to prevent some of these adverse educational outcomes.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Using prospective National Comorbidity Survey panel data, this study finds modest associations between mental disorders and lower subsequent educational attainment, with effects generally stronger among students than non-students. Assuming causal effects, mental disorders accounted for 5.8–11.0% of high school non-completion and 3.2–11.4% of college non-completion.

Key findings

  • Across 48 regression models, 9 coefficients were statistically significant, all showing decreased odds of educational transitions; significant odds ratios ranged from .17 to .61.
  • Among students, baseline bipolar and externalizing disorders, and post-baseline fear, anxiety-misery, and externalizing disorders were associated with lower odds of high school graduation; baseline anxiety-misery disorders with lower odds of going to college; and baseline externalizing disorders and post-baseline bipolar disorder with lower odds of college graduation.
  • Among non-students, baseline fear disorders were associated with lower odds of high school graduation and baseline bipolar disorder with lower odds of going to college.
  • Population attributable risk proportions were 5.8–11.0% for high school non-completion and 3.2–11.4% for college non-completion; the largest were 11.4% for college graduation among students and 11.0% for high school graduation among non-students.

Methods

  • Data came from 5,001 respondents aged 15–54 in the 1990–1992 National Comorbidity Survey re-interviewed in the 2001–2003 NCS follow-up; analyses used 3,954 eligible respondents and weighted data.
  • Mental disorders were grouped into internalizing fear, internalizing anxiety-misery, externalizing, and bipolar disorder categories, assessed at baseline and for first onset after baseline; outcomes were high school graduation, going to college, and college graduation, analyzed separately among students and non-students at baseline.
  • Discrete-time survival analysis with sociodemographic controls and childhood adversities was used, with Taylor series methods in SUDAAN and simulation-based population attributable risk proportions.

Limitations

  • The paper states that individual disorder samples were too small, requiring disorder grouping and producing large confidence intervals for some odds ratios; results need replication in larger samples.
  • The paper states that disorders assessed were incomplete—excluding psychotic disorders, ADHD, personality disorders, and subthreshold disorders—so the estimated effect is likely an underestimate, and residual confounding limits causal inference.
  • The paper also notes no assessment of student performance or GPA and that education was measured as completed years of schooling rather than level achieved; the text makes evident that causal interpretation depends on the assumption that survival regression coefficients represent causal effects.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s00127-015-1083-5

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

23 Own result · 20 Own method · 19 Not checked yet · 15 Own interpretation · 1 Supported so far · 1 No basis given

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Show all 41 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 27
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 13
38 of 38
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The survival regression coefficients accurately represent causal effects of mental disorders.

    “based on the assumption that the survival regression coefficients accurately represent causal effects of these disorders.”
    “Assuming that the regression coefficients represent causal effects”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The associations of mental disorders with return to schooling among individuals who experienced a disruption in education have not been examined previously.

    “The associations of mental disorders with return to schooling among individuals who experienced a disruption in education have not been examined previously.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Psychotic disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and personality disorders likely impact educational attainment.

    “which likely impact educational attainment.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Social adversities besides those measured in NCS, childhood physical health conditions, and socio-economic status not captured by the breadwinner’s education may influence both the risk of mental disorders and educational outcomes.

    “For example, social adversities besides the ones measured in NCS, childhood physical health conditions and socio-economic status not captured by the breadwinner’s education may all influence both the risk of mental disorders as well as educational outcomes.”
4 of 4

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. First MB, Spitzer, RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW (2002) Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Non-patient Edition (SCID-I/NP). Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute: New York
  2. Research Triangle Institute (2004) SUDAAN Professional Software for Survey Data Analysis, 9.0. Research Triangle Institute, NC

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Metadata

Authors
Mojtabai, R., Stuart, E. A., Hwang, I., Eaton, W. W., Sampson, N., & Kessler, R. C.
Affiliations
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Mojtabai, Ramin
Venue
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published
2015-06-17
Volume
50
Issue
10
Pages
1577-1591
ISSN
  • 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
  • 1433-9285
OpenAlex
W639695655
Cited by
215
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
FWCI
24.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r13mh066849-04, 5r01mh069864-04, 5r01mh070884-05)
  • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R13-MH-066849, R01‐MH070884, R01MH046376, R01MH096826, R01‐MH069864)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA016558, R01DA012058)
  • Fogarty International Center (R03TW006481)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
mental illness, educational attainment, high school graduation, college completion, bipolar disorder, externalizing disorders, internalizing disorders, fear disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, conduct disorder, access to mental health care, youth, National Comorbidity Survey
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Educational Status, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, United States, Comorbidity, Young Adult

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