Relationship between predictive psychiatric disorders and social difficulties among children and adolescents attending pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in Dhaka

Abstract

Background: Considerable numbers of children and adolescents in Bangladesh attending in pediatric outpatient department suffer from Emotional, and Behavioral disorders. These disorders are associated with social difficulties in term of Peer problem and low Prosocial behavior. Objectives: The study had been designed to find out the proportion of predictive psychiatric disorder among the children and adolescents attendees in a pediatric outpatient center and their association with Peer problem and Social difficulties. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary level hospital. Purposive and consecutive sampling technique had been used and sample size was 100. Both male and female children aged 4 to 18 years were included. Structured questionnaire containing socio-demographic and other relevant clinical information and validated parent version of Bangla Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire for screening psychopathology had been applied to the consented parents or caregivers of the respondents. Results: Mean age of the children was 8.17 years. Children from 4 to 10 years were 80%. The male female ratio was 1.3:1. Predictive Psychiatric disorder was 12%. Among them, Hyperactivity was 9%, Emotional disorder 5% and Conduct disorder 5%. Overall, 20% of the cases had Peer problem and they were significantly present in the cases with predictive psychiatric disorder. Low pro-social behavior was found among 75% subjects and it was found higher with predictive Psychaitric disorder group but not at significant level. Low Prosocial behavior was significantly found among the subjects with predictive Hyperactivity (P=0.033). Further, low Prosocial behavior and high Peer problem was significantly found in 77.8% subjects (P>0.001).Conclusions: This study supports the other findings of high Psychiatric disorders among the pediatric outpatient attendees and their adverse impact that would ultimately help in applying suitable screening procedure and early intervention.