Preschool Psychiatric Disorders: Diagnostic Classification and Symptom Patterns

Abstract

Clinical case records of 274 3-5-year-old children seen for evaluation prior to publication of DSM-III were studied to look at the relationship between the diagnostic scheme used in the clinic, factor analytic symptom patterns, and DSM-III classification. Severe atypical, mild atypical, reactive, and “other” children differed significantly in developmental functioning, level and patterning of symptomatology, and family pathology. Implications of the study for DSM-III classification are discussed.