Differential Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disturbance in Pre-School Children

Abstract

A sample of over 200 disturbed children under 5 were examined for symptoms and factors in their families and environment that might help to differentiate those with mainly depressed or aggressive or anxious presenting behaviour. Aggressive children had the worst housing conditions and most mentally ill parents. They were less likely than depressed children to be also anxious, and more were clean by age 3 and fewer soiled after age 3. Depressed children had most depressed mothers. They themselves slept badly, were enuretic, and had a high incidence of anorexia and abdominal pain. Anxious children had the least mental illness among their parents. They slept badly, were often enuretic, and had the highest incidence of soiling. They also had most physical problems. Treatment for many of the very disturbed families of children was possible because of the existence of a day hospital for them and their families.