Number of Patients Under 18 Doubled Since 2020
Male Patients Aged 7 to 12 Outnumber Females by 2.6 Times
The number of child patients visiting clinic-level medical institutions for psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders has more than doubled over the past four years. The increase was particularly notable among children aged 7 to 12, which corresponds to elementary school students.
A banner related to medical school entrance exams is displayed on the exterior wall of an academy in the academy district of Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
According to data submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Representative Jin Sunmi of the National Assembly’s Education Committee on May 4, a total of 270,625 patients under the age of 18 visited clinic-level medical institutions for psychiatric disorders such as depression from January to November last year. This figure is more than double the 133,235 recorded in 2020.
The number of child and adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders has increased every year, from 133,235 in 2020, to 172,441 in 2021, 212,451 in 2022, 244,884 in 2023, and 270,625 last year.
By age group, the increase was most pronounced among children aged 7 to 12, corresponding to elementary school students. The number of patients in this age group rose from 46,060 in 2020 to 105,324 last year, an increase of approximately 2.23 times.
By gender, male children significantly outnumbered female children. Last year, there were 76,159 male patients aged 7 to 12, which is more than double the 29,165 female patients in the same age group.
The number of cases among infants (ages 0 to 6) also increased. The number of male patients rose from 12,707 to 19,505, and the number of female patients increased from 5,231 to 7,763, each representing a 1.5-fold increase.
Among adolescents (ages 13 to 18), demand for treatment also increased significantly. The number of male patients increased from 35,193 to 66,459, a 1.9-fold increase, while the number of female patients rose from 34,044 to 71,574, a 2.1-fold increase.
The most common psychiatric disorders diagnosed in child patients at medical institutions were depressive episodes, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, and mood disorders.
Pediatric depression is generally considered to be uncommon, but the number of related patients is increasing as more children are exposed to excessive academic pressure and stress from peer comparisons. In particular, pediatric depression often manifests as irritability or frequent anger rather than sadness, unlike in adults, making it easy to mistake for simple defiance or adolescent symptoms.
Experts advise that if a child suddenly experiences a significant decline in concentration, frequently complains of fatigue, or shows severe mood swings even over trivial matters, it is necessary to seek consultation with a psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent mental health.
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