Research priorities on physical-mental comorbidity in children and adolescents: an international consensus

Journal article : Review

Physical-mental comorbidity in children and adolescents is an emerging global health concern, yet research remains fragmented and lacks a coordinated agenda. We conducted a global priority setting exercise using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method. A total of 134 research ideas were scored by 45 experts against five criteria: answerability, effectiveness, potential for paradigm shift, potential for translation and implementation, and impact on equity. The highest-ranked priorities focused on treatment strategies, early intervention, reducing disparities in care, and the role of schools and communities in supporting health. Comparative analyses revealed both shared and context-specific needs across income settings. This is the first global consensus on research priorities for child and adolescent physical-mental comorbidity and offers a strategic roadmap to guide future research and policy.

Authors: Jiang, D; Zhou, J; Zhu, Y; Abdin, E; Afifi, TO

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: EClinicalMedicine
• Volume: 89
• Pages: 103559
• Publication date: 2025-10-09
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103559
• EISSN: 2589-5370
• ISSN: 2589-5370
• Pmid: 41140459
• Language: English
• Keywords: Global Health; Physical-mental Comorbidity; Child And Adolescent Health; Research Prioritization
• Subtype: Review