Is Separating Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Services Helpful?

"Neurodevelopmental conditions show strong overlap with each other and share risk factors in common, including family history and genetic liability. Typically, the clinical course of neurodevelopmental conditions tends to change with maturation but otherwise usually shows a relatively steady state."

"Neurodevelopmental conditions often are associated with educational differences and challenges. This spectrum of variation has led to interest in the term neurodivergence (ND) and a shift away from using the term disorder outside clinical settings."

"Many but not all the features described above separate neurodevelopmental conditions from mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and psychosis. Mental health challenges typically arise later in development."

Neurodevelopmental conditions, defined in DSM-5 and ICD-11, include ADHD, autism, and learning disorders. They typically arise early in development and share common risk factors. These conditions often show a steady clinical course and are not clear-cut diagnostic categories, lying on a continuum. They are associated with educational challenges. While there are differences between neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, the overlap complicates service provision and funding, suggesting that separating them may not be beneficial despite some conceptual advantages.

Read at Psychology Today