O impacto da exposição à violência e outros eventos traumáticos nos transtornos mentais dos adolescentes e adultos jovens na cidade de São Paulo

Teenagers and young adults are more vulnerable and more exposed to violence and traumatic events than adults, and these factors can be associated with mental disorders. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate if young people are indeed more exposed to violence and traumatic events and to compare pattern of mental disorders with the adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional study using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was conducted between 2007 and 2008 with a randomly selected sample of São Paulo, Brazil: residents ranging from 15 to 75 years of age, were divided into young-adult and adult groups. Results: A sample of 2,536 individuals were interviewed and divided in the following two groups: 1,096 (43.2%) young people aged from 15 to 24, and 1,440 (56.8%) adults aged from 25 to 75. Exposure to traumatic events in the 12 months before to the interview was significantly higher among young people (32.1% vs. 20.6%; p<0.001). Exposure to assaultive violence reached 13.4% of young people and 8.6% of adults (p=0.012); 20.1% of young people reported suffering other injury or shocking events, as opposed to 13% of adults (p<0.001); sudden death/life threatening illness of a close person was declared by 6.1% of young people and 3.2% of adults (p=0.017). Prevalence of alcohol abuse was significantly higher among young people (5.4% vs. 2.5%; P=0.032), whereas depressive disorders were significantly more common among adults (9.0% vs. 4.7%; P=0.004). Alcohol related disorder was associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR=3.69; p=0.004) and adults (OR=2.93; p=0.002). Phobic anxiety disorders were associated to other injury or shocking events among young people (OR=3.51; p=0.025). Major depressive disorder was associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR=3.13; p=0.004) and adults (OR=1.66; p=0.009). Conclusion: Exposure to every form of violence and traumatic events was significantly more prevalent among young people. Alcohol abuse, depression and phobic anxiety disorders were significantly higher among young people exposed to traumatic events. Although this is a crosssectional study the high exposure to violence and traumatic events in this age group can be important factors of triggering mental disorders in this vulnerable age period.Adolescentes e adultos jovens são mais vulneráveis e mais expostos à violência e eventos traumáticos do que os adultos, e esses fatores podem ser associados a transtornos mentais. Objectivo: O objectivo deste estudo é avaliar se os jovens são de fato mais expostos à violência e eventos traumáticos e comparar padrão de transtornos mentais com a população adulta. Métodos: Um estudo transversal com o Composite International Diagnostic Interview foi realizado entre 2007 e 2008 com uma amostra aleatória da população da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil: os participantes com idade 15 a 75 anos foram divididos em grupos de jovens adultos e adultos. Resultados: 2.536 indivíduos foram entrevistados e divididos em dois grupos: 1.096 (43,2%) jovens com idade entre 15-24, e 1.440 (56,8%) adultos com idade de 25 a 75. A exposição a eventos traumáticos nos 12 meses anteriores a entrevista foi significativamente maior entre os jovens (32,1% vs. 20,6%; p <0,001). A exposição à violência direta e intencional atingiu 13,4% dos jovens e 8,6% dos adultos (p = 0,012); 20,1% dos jovens e 13% dos adultos (p