What we have learned about adolescent mental health and where we are going after a decade with the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study

2026/01/28 by Arielle Baskin-Sommers, Dominic Gearing, Jivesh Ramduny +34 · 2 voices
Psychology · Medicine · #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Treatment of Major Depression #Bipolar Disorder and Treatment

paper · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101686

openalex publication_date 2026/01/28 · openalex created_date 2026/01/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27

Abstract

This review synthesizes ten years of research utilizing data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, emphasizing how the study's comprehensive, longitudinal design supports a multivariate understanding of adolescent mental health. We focus on studies that have examined the collective or interacting relations of multiple factors to mental health in adolescents, as this unique dataset allows for examining more complex configurations of risk factors. We highlight key findings from ABCD data that have deepened our understanding of the risk factors shaping mental health outcomes in adolescence. Findings underscore the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and/or contextual factors on adolescent mental health. We conclude with a forward-looking discussion of emerging research priorities and opportunities to further leverage the ABCD dataset to inform developmental theory, prevention, and intervention efforts.

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Discussions

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