Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 9/2007

01-09-2007 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Child psychiatric symptoms in primary school

The second wave 4 years after preschool assessment

Authors: Thomas Beyer, MS, Tilman Furniss, MD, MPhil, FRCPsych

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2007

Login to get access

Abstract

Objective

Prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems in primary school children was examined 4 years after a baseline survey at preschool age. The scope of symptoms was investigated. Due to anonymity of data only group differences between the two measurements were reported.

Method

A representative sample of 1,481 children in fourth year primary school was assessed with the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). In addition to the CBCL broadband groups of internalizing (INT) and externalizing symptoms (EXT) a third group of combined internalizing and externalizing symptoms (COM) was defined.

Results

The 6 month prevalence of child mental health problems at second wave was 18%—a significant increase on the previous baseline rate of 12.4%. Of those 18% of children with child mental health problems 27.3% had exclusively internalizing, 6.0% externalizing symptoms and 52.4% had combined symptoms of INT and EXT.

Conclusion

The increasing prevalence was associated with an increase of symptoms of the broadband groups INT and COM but not EXT. The results also highlight an age and gender specific vulnerability of boys, both at preschool and primary school.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Achenbach TM (1991) Manual for the child behavior checklist/4–18 and 1991 profile. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington, VT Achenbach TM (1991) Manual for the child behavior checklist/4–18 and 1991 profile. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington, VT
2.
go back to reference Achenbach TM, Howell CT, Mcconoughy SH, Stanger C (1995) Six-year predictors of problems in a national sample of children and youth, II: signs of disturbance. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34:488–498PubMedCrossRef Achenbach TM, Howell CT, Mcconoughy SH, Stanger C (1995) Six-year predictors of problems in a national sample of children and youth, II: signs of disturbance. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34:488–498PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Arbeitsgruppe Deutsche Child Behavior Checklist (1998) German Version of the Child Behavior Checklist, Arbeitsgruppe Kinder- Jugend- und Familiendiagnostik, Cologne Arbeitsgruppe Deutsche Child Behavior Checklist (1998) German Version of the Child Behavior Checklist, Arbeitsgruppe Kinder- Jugend- und Familiendiagnostik, Cologne
4.
go back to reference Blumberg SH, Izard C (1985) Affective and cognitive characteristics of depression in 10- and 11-year-old children. J Pers Soc Psychol 49:194–202PubMedCrossRef Blumberg SH, Izard C (1985) Affective and cognitive characteristics of depression in 10- and 11-year-old children. J Pers Soc Psychol 49:194–202PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Bongers I, Koot H, Van Der Ende J, Verhulst FC (2003) The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. J Abnorm Psychol 112:179–192PubMedCrossRef Bongers I, Koot H, Van Der Ende J, Verhulst FC (2003) The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. J Abnorm Psychol 112:179–192PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Campbell SB (1995) Behavior problems in preschool children: a review of recent research. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 36:113–149PubMedCrossRef Campbell SB (1995) Behavior problems in preschool children: a review of recent research. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 36:113–149PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Colder CR, Stice E (1998) A longitudinal study of the interactive effect of impulsivity and anger on adolescent problem behaviour. J Youth Adolesc 27:255–274CrossRef Colder CR, Stice E (1998) A longitudinal study of the interactive effect of impulsivity and anger on adolescent problem behaviour. J Youth Adolesc 27:255–274CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Costello EJ, Mustillo S, Erkanli A, Keeler G, Angold A (2003) Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:837–844PubMedCrossRef Costello EJ, Mustillo S, Erkanli A, Keeler G, Angold A (2003) Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:837–844PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference Doepfner M, Plueck J, Berner W, et al. (1997) Psychische Auffaelligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland - Ergebnisse einer repraesentativen Studie: Methodik, Alters-, Geschlechts- und Beurteilereffekte. Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr 25:218–233 Doepfner M, Plueck J, Berner W, et al. (1997) Psychische Auffaelligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland - Ergebnisse einer repraesentativen Studie: Methodik, Alters-, Geschlechts- und Beurteilereffekte. Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr 25:218–233
10.
go back to reference Eisenberg N, Cumberland A, Spinrad TL, et al. (2001) The relations of regulation and emotionality to children’s externalizing and internalizing problem behavior. Child Dev 72:1112–1134PubMedCrossRef Eisenberg N, Cumberland A, Spinrad TL, et al. (2001) The relations of regulation and emotionality to children’s externalizing and internalizing problem behavior. Child Dev 72:1112–1134PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Fombonne E (1994) The Chartres Study, I: prevalence of psychiatric disorders among French school-aged children. Br J Psychiatry 164:69–79PubMedCrossRef Fombonne E (1994) The Chartres Study, I: prevalence of psychiatric disorders among French school-aged children. Br J Psychiatry 164:69–79PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Ford T, Goodman R, Meltzer H (2003) The British child and adolescent mental health survey 1999: the prevalence of DSM-IV disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42:1203–1211PubMedCrossRef Ford T, Goodman R, Meltzer H (2003) The British child and adolescent mental health survey 1999: the prevalence of DSM-IV disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42:1203–1211PubMedCrossRef
13.
go back to reference Furniss T, Beyer T, Guggenmos J (2006) Prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems among six-years-old preschool children: baseline results of a prospective longitudinal study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41:394–399PubMedCrossRef Furniss T, Beyer T, Guggenmos J (2006) Prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems among six-years-old preschool children: baseline results of a prospective longitudinal study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41:394–399PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Garland AF, Hough RI, Mccabe KM, Yeh M, Wood PA, Aarons GA (2001) Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in youths across five sectors of care. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40:409–418PubMedCrossRef Garland AF, Hough RI, Mccabe KM, Yeh M, Wood PA, Aarons GA (2001) Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in youths across five sectors of care. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40:409–418PubMedCrossRef
15.
go back to reference Haffner J, Esther C, Münch H, et al. (2002) Verhaltensauffaelligkeiten im Einschulungsalter aus elterlicher Perspektive: Ergebnisse zu Praevalenz und Risikofaktoren in einer epidemiologischen Studie. Praxis Kinderpsychol Kinderpsych 51:675–696 Haffner J, Esther C, Münch H, et al. (2002) Verhaltensauffaelligkeiten im Einschulungsalter aus elterlicher Perspektive: Ergebnisse zu Praevalenz und Risikofaktoren in einer epidemiologischen Studie. Praxis Kinderpsychol Kinderpsych 51:675–696
16.
go back to reference Keiley MK, Bates JE, Dodge KA, Pettit GS (2000) Cross-domain growth analysis: externalizing and internalizing behaviors during 8 years of childhood. J Abnorm Child Psychol 28:61–179CrossRef Keiley MK, Bates JE, Dodge KA, Pettit GS (2000) Cross-domain growth analysis: externalizing and internalizing behaviors during 8 years of childhood. J Abnorm Child Psychol 28:61–179CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Keltner D, Moffitt TE, Stouthamer-Loeber M (1995) Facial expression of emotion and psychopathology in adolescent boys. J Abnorm Psychol 104:644–652PubMedCrossRef Keltner D, Moffitt TE, Stouthamer-Loeber M (1995) Facial expression of emotion and psychopathology in adolescent boys. J Abnorm Psychol 104:644–652PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Kim-Cohen J, Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Harrington HI, Milne BJ, Poulton R (2003) Prior juvenile diagnoses in adults with mental disorder: developmental follow-back of a prospective-longitudinal cohort. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:709–717PubMedCrossRef Kim-Cohen J, Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Harrington HI, Milne BJ, Poulton R (2003) Prior juvenile diagnoses in adults with mental disorder: developmental follow-back of a prospective-longitudinal cohort. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:709–717PubMedCrossRef
19.
go back to reference Kroes M, Kalff AC, Steyaert J, et al. (2002) A longitudinal community study: do psychosocial risk factors and child behavior checklist scores at 5 years of age predict psychiatric diagnoses at a later age? J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41:955–963PubMedCrossRef Kroes M, Kalff AC, Steyaert J, et al. (2002) A longitudinal community study: do psychosocial risk factors and child behavior checklist scores at 5 years of age predict psychiatric diagnoses at a later age? J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41:955–963PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Lavigne JV, Arend RP, Rosenbaum DP, Binns HJM, Christoffel KKM, Gibbons RDP (1998) Psychiatric disorders with onset in the preschool years: I. Stability of diagnoses. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 37:1246–1254PubMedCrossRef Lavigne JV, Arend RP, Rosenbaum DP, Binns HJM, Christoffel KKM, Gibbons RDP (1998) Psychiatric disorders with onset in the preschool years: I. Stability of diagnoses. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 37:1246–1254PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Lavigne JV, Gibbons RD, Christoffel KK, et al. (1996) Prevalence rates and correlates of psychiatric disorders among preschool children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:204–214PubMedCrossRef Lavigne JV, Gibbons RD, Christoffel KK, et al. (1996) Prevalence rates and correlates of psychiatric disorders among preschool children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:204–214PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Puura K, Almqvist F, Tamminen T, et al. (1998) Psychiatric disturbances among prepubertal children in Southern Finland. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 33:310–318PubMedCrossRef Puura K, Almqvist F, Tamminen T, et al. (1998) Psychiatric disturbances among prepubertal children in Southern Finland. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 33:310–318PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Roberts RE, Attkisson CC, Rosenblatt A (1998) Prevalence of psychopathology among children and adolescents. Am J Psychiatry 155:715–725PubMed Roberts RE, Attkisson CC, Rosenblatt A (1998) Prevalence of psychopathology among children and adolescents. Am J Psychiatry 155:715–725PubMed
24.
go back to reference Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1992) Six-year developmental course of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. J Am Acad Adolesc Psychiatry 31:941–950CrossRef Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1992) Six-year developmental course of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. J Am Acad Adolesc Psychiatry 31:941–950CrossRef
25.
go back to reference Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1997) Factors associated with child mental health service use in the community. J Am Acad Adolesc Psychiatry 36:901–909CrossRef Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1997) Factors associated with child mental health service use in the community. J Am Acad Adolesc Psychiatry 36:901–909CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Zahn-Waxler C, Klimes-Dougan B, Slattery MJ (2000) Internalizing problems of childhood and adolescence: prospects, pitfalls, and progress in understanding the development of anxiety and depression. Dev Psychopathol 12:443–466PubMedCrossRef Zahn-Waxler C, Klimes-Dougan B, Slattery MJ (2000) Internalizing problems of childhood and adolescence: prospects, pitfalls, and progress in understanding the development of anxiety and depression. Dev Psychopathol 12:443–466PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Child psychiatric symptoms in primary school
The second wave 4 years after preschool assessment
Authors
Thomas Beyer, MS
Tilman Furniss, MD, MPhil, FRCPsych
Publication date
01-09-2007
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2007
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0224-x

Other articles of this Issue 9/2007

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 9/2007 Go to the issue