Outcome of children with school refusal

Abstract

Objective. To assess prospectively the psychiatric diagnostic status, psychosocial correlates, and short-term outcome of youngsters with school refusal.

Prolonged school non-attendance in adolescence: a practical approach

“…Longer term there is evidence of an increased incidence of psychiatric disturbance in adult life, with around 30% of young people with prolonged school non-attendance experiencing adjustment disorders in adulthood 6. School refusal has been identified as a key predictor for the persistence of separation anxiety disorder into adulthood 7 8. There is some evidence, however, that young people who receive intervention may be at less long-term risk 33 34…”

Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Selected Common Behavioural Problems of Children

“…The study concluded that psychiatric morbidity is high in youngsters with school refusal. [6] As review literature shows that the evidence of behavioural problems is increasing day by day in children. Primary school teachers are having some knowledge regarding behavioural problems.…”

To go or not to go: School refusal and its clinical correlates

“…In an Australian study of 192 adolescents with school refusal, 101 (54%) had anxiety disorders, 99 (53%) had mood disorders, 73 (38%) had disruptive behaviour disorders and 49 (27%) had other disorders, like adjustment disorder and learning disorders (5.5%) . An Indian study of 33 school refusers found that 64% were diagnosed with a DSM‐IV depressive disorder, and 58% had an anxiety disorder . I see many children who do not meet full criteria for any subtype of an anxiety disorder and only have subsyndromal anxiety.…”

“…I have often wondered and argued that school refusal should receive a separate nosological status . In many children, this is often the main or only presenting complaint; they do not meet criteria for an anxiety or a depressive disorder, having only subthreshold symptoms.…”

“…Depressive disorders (and subthreshold depression) are more likely among adolescent school refusers. Some studies have reported more severe school refusal in adolescents . Treatment outcome has also been found to be inferior for older school refusers relative to younger school refusers .…”