Denan Jiang, Jiali Zhou, Yajie Zhu, Edimansyah Abdin, Tracie O. Afifi, Laura Helena Andrade, Rebecca Bendayan, Emma E Berkelbach van der Sprenkel, Ronny Bruffaerts, Ferrán Catalá-López, Ian Colman, Benjamin G. Druss, Laura Duncan, Nuša Farič, Erika D. Felix, Holly Foster, Shurong Lu, Hassan Mansour, Ruth Ann Marrie, Tanya Meade, Salima Meherali, Carles Muntaner, Yoko Nomura, Junko Okuyama, Susan Rees, Graham J. Reid, Janet U. Schneiderman, Dan J. Stein, Frederick W. Thielen, Wan Yee Winnie Tso, André O. Werneck, Xiaoyan Wu, Igor Rudan, Peige Song
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.