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. Ozet Amac: Bu calismanin amaci bir devlet hastanesi cocuk psikiyatrisi poliklinigine basvuran okuloncesi cocuklarda psikiyatrik bozukluklarin yayginlik ve oruntulerini arastirmaktir. Gerec ve Yontemler: Arastirmada tanisal degerlendirme icin yari-yapilandirilmis bir psikiyatrik gorusme formu olan Okul Cagi Cocuklari icin Duygulanim Bozukluklari ve Şizofreni Gorusme Cizelgesi-Şimdi ve Yasam Boyu Şekli (CDŞGŞY) kullanildi. Ihtiyac duyulmasi halinde gelisimsel degerlendirme icin Denver Gelisimsel Tarama Testi II (DGTT II) kullanildi. Yaslari 17-72 ay (48,52±13,44 ay) arasinda degisen 200 okuloncesi cocuk (122 erkek, %61; 78 kiz, %39) calismaya alindi. Bulgular: Olgularin yarisindan fazlasi (n=130; %65) en az bir psikiyatrik tani aldi. Olgularin %34’u (68/200) iki ya da fazla tani aldi. Erkeklerin %71’i (87/122), kizlarin %55’i (43/78) en az bir tani aldi. Erkek ve kizlar arasinda genel psikopatoloji (p=0,0309) ve komorbidite (p=0,0022) oranlari acisindan belirgin farklilik vardi. En sik tanilar dikkat eksikligi hiperaktivite bozuklugu (n=54; %27), dil ve konusma bozukluklari (n=34; %17), anksiyete bozukluklari (n=33; %16,5) ve karsi olma karsi gelme bozuklugu (n=21; %10,5) seklindeydi. Tartisma ve Sonuc: Bu calismanin bulgulari psikiyatri kliniklerine basvuran okuloncesi cocuklarda cocuk ve aile acisindan kaygi verici olabilecek denli yuksek psikopatoloji ve komorbidite oranlariyla karsilasilabilecegine isaret etmektedir. Erkek cocuklarin coklu psikiyatrik tani alma olasiliklari daha fazladir. Okuloncesi cocuklarda psikopatoloji CDŞG-ŞY kullanilarak degerlendirebilir.