This book presents a thorough and critical review of current knowledge about the age of onset
of mental disorders. The opening chapters offer information about the impact of the age of
onset on the clinical picture course and outcome of physical illnesses and about the
neurobiological implications and correlates of different ages of onset. The impact and
correlates of the ages of onset of all the most important mental disorders are then discussed
in detail by internationally renowned scientists. The background to the book is the recognition
that a better understanding of age of onset makes it possible to estimate the lifetime risk of
disorders helps to elucidate pathogenesis and facilitates efficient targeted clinical
management. The book will be of value for clinicians mental health professionals mental
health researchers epidemiologists and different stakeholders in the mental health field.
