Prevalence and Patterns of Psychiatric Disorders in Preschool Children Referred to an Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic / Psikiyatri Kliniğine Başvuran Okulöncesi Çocuklarda Psikiyatrik Bozuklukların Yaygınlığı ve Örüntüleri

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders in preschool children (at or below 72 months of age) consecutively referred to a state hospital’s child psychiatry outpatient clinic in Trabzon, Turkey. Materials and Methods: Diagnostic assessment was conducted using a semi-structured instrument, Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). If needed, developmental evaluation was conducted using Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST). 200 preschool children (122 males, 61%; 78 females, 39%) with an age range of 17-72 months (48.52±13.44 months) were included in the study. Results: More than half of the subjects (n=130; 65%) received at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Of the children 34 % (68/200) met criteria for two or more diagnoses. Of males 71% (87/122), and of girls 55% (43/78) received at least one diagnosis. There were significant differences between boys and girls with regard to rates of overall psychopathology (p=0,0309) and rates of comorbidity (p=0,0022). Most frequent diagnoses were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n=54; 27%), language and speech disorders (n=34; 17%), anxiety disorders (n=33; 16.5%) and oppositional defiant disorder (n=21; 10.5%). Discussion and Conclusion : Findings of this study suggest that preschool children presenting to psychiatry clinics may have high rates of psychopathology and comorbidity that may be a source of concern for the subjects and parents. Boys are more likely to have multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Psychopathology in preschool children can be assessed using structured instruments such as K-SADS.