Psychiatric disorders in 8–9-year-old children based on a diagnostic interview with the parents

Abstract

Using three questionnaires, the Rutter Parent Questionnaire (RA2), The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire (RB2) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), we screened 8-9-year-old children representing a total annual birth cohort (N = 60007) in Finland. In a second stage we interviewed the parents of 119 screen negative, and 316 screen positive children by using a structured parent interview. At the population level the overall prevalence rate for psychiatric disturbance was 21.8%, higher among boys (29.8%) than among girls (12.8%). Nine percent of the children were in urgent need of treatment and, in addition, 25% were in need of assessment. The prevalence of different levels of disturbance was: reactive 9.5%; neurotic 18.4%; borderline 3.1%; and other severe disorders 2.3%. The prevalence of different diagnostic groups were: anxiety disorder 5.2%; depressive disorder 6.2%; specific fears 2.4%; defiant and conduct disorder 4.7%; and attention-deficit hyperactivity-disorder 7.1%. The prevalence for the most common single first Axis-I DSM-III-R diagnoses were: attention-deficit hyperactivity-disorder 7%; dysthymia 4.6%; adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotion and conduct 3.4%; oppositional defiant disorder 2.7%; specific fear 1.7%; anxiety disorder 1.5%; enuresis nocturnal 1.5%; and depression 1.4%. Only 3.1% of the children had visited health professionals for psychiatric problems during the previous three months. Only a minority of the children with psychiatric disturbances had ever consulted health professionals for their problems. Of all the children, 7.5% had a severe psychiatric disturbance that had lasted for more than 3 years.

Social phobia in Finnish general adolescent population: prevalence, comorbidity, individual and family correlates, and service use

“…[1,7,18] No epidemiological studies on anxiety disorders among Finnish adolescents have been conducted. Almquist et al [19] reported a low estimate of 0.1% for SP among 8-9-year-old children, based on parental reports. One study [20] using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) interview [21] estimated a onemonth prevalence of 1.2% for SP among Finnish young adults aged 20-24 years.…”

Special school teachers require more goal-oriented collaboration with psychiatric professionals in Northern Finland

“…School-aged children's problems and needs for care are often manifested as behavioural and emotional disorders and may be related to problematic life situations (1)(2)(3)(4). In western countries, 15-22 % of school-aged children suffer from psychiatric disorders (2,3,(5)(6)(7).…”

“…In western countries, 15-22 % of school-aged children suffer from psychiatric disorders (2,3,(5)(6)(7). A longitudinal epidemiological survey carried out in Germany focused on pupils aged 8 and 13.…”

“…Two sets of measurements were made, and approximately 16 % of the pupils had psychiatric disorders on both occasions (5). Finnish epidemiological surveys have revealed psychiatric disorders in 14-22 % of primary school pupils aged 8-9 years (2,3,7,8).…”

“…According to teachers' reports, 14-16 % of their pupils (7-12 yr.) have behavioural and emotional disorders (2,4,9). The need for psychiatric help is most pressing (38-44 %) among special-needs pupils (1,10).…”