A study on psychiatric conditions in children with school refusal- A clinic based study

Abstract

A BSTRACT Introduction: School refusal is a broad term that encompasses a child-motivated refusal to attend or remain at school, or a clear and apparent difficulty in doing so. Different factors that may influence the development of school refusal include a genetic predisposition, the home and family environment, the school environment, and social pressures. the present study aimed at examining, the psychiatric diagnostic status of children and adolescents who presented with school refusal. Materials and Methods: 92 consecutive subjects who attended the Child guidance clinic at Tata Main Hospital Jamshedpur were taken up for this study. The Clinical Diagnosis was based on the classificatory system of the International classification of diseases-10(ICD-10) through interviews. Results: findings show that the mean age of the patient was 9.6 years. The prominent psychiatric co-morbidity present was Childhood emotional disorder unspecified, separation anxiety, conversion disorder, over-anxiety disorder, and somatoform disorder. Conclusion: Among children who refuse school, emotional reasons and anxiety disorders are most prevalent. This calls for early recognition and appropriate culturally relevant intervention to ensure early return to school.

School Refusal Behavior: A Narrative Review

“…In a recent study, the prominent psychiatric co‑morbidities in such cases were unspecified childhood emotional disorder, separation anxiety, conversion disorder, over‑anxiety disorder, and somatoform disorder. 16 Previous studies have shown that children with complaints of school refusal generally present with anxiety symptoms, and teenagers have symptoms related with anxiety and mood disorders. 17 Some studies have highlighted mental retardation and learning difficulties as precursors to school refusal behavior.…”

Peculiarities of children's development during the transition age and the impact of this period of child development on the educational process

“…This means that a specialist doctor must conduct an examination and prescribe tests. If a psychosomatic reaction becomes a habitual way of reacting to stress, then consultation with a neurologist or psychotherapist is necessary (Biswas and Sahoo, 2023).…”