Detecting emotional and behavioural problems in paediatric clinics

Authors:
GLAZEBROOK C., et al
Journal article citation:
Child: Care, Health and Development, 29(2), March 2003, pp.141-149.
Publisher:
Wiley

Children with chronic illness have increased rates of mental health problems and psychological difficulties often present as physical conditions. This prevalence survey aimed to determine whether children attending general paediatric out-patient clinics are at increased risk of suffering from emotional and behavioural disturbance and whether there is an unmet need for psychiatric liaison to paediatric clinics by studying 307 children aged 5–15 attending a representative sample of paediatric out-patient clinics in one UK hospital. A national community sample of 10,438 children aged 5–15 was used as a comparison group. Parental ratings of child behaviour were obtained using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Doctors rated the extent of any emotional difficulties using a modification of the SDQ ‘impact supplement’. Children attending paediatric out-patient clinics were more than twice as likely to score in the abnormal range of the SDQ. Of the 60 (20%) children with a probable psychiatric disorder only 15 had received specialist help from child mental health services. There were no gender differences in the profile of difficulties with emotional symptoms being particularly evident in both boys and girls. The risk of psychiatric disorder was highest among those with brain disorders attending neurological clinics. Clinicians only identified emotional or behaviour problems in a quarter of those children with parent-rated disorder. Concludes there is increased prevalence of emotional and behavioural disturbance in children attending paediatric out-patient clinics. The SDQ could be added to routine paediatric assessments to aid appropriate referral of children with possible psychiatric disorder to child mental health services.

Subject terms:
mental health problems, screening, children, conduct disorders, emotionally disturbed children;
Content type:
research
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1365-2214
ISSN print:
0305-1862

Key to icons

  • Free resource Free resource
  • Journal article Journal article
  • Book Book
  • Digital media Digital media
  • Journal Journal

Give us your feedback

Social Care Online continues to be developed in response to user feedback.

Contact us with your comments and for any problems using the website.

Sign up/login for more

Register/login to access resource links, advanced search and email alerts