DSM-III Disorders in Preadolescent Children

TLDR

The study examined DSM‑III disorder prevalence in 792 11‑year‑old children from the general population, using cross‑sectional data and background behavioral reports indicating earlier problems in those with multiple disorders. Overall prevalence was 17.6% (boys:girls 1.7:1), with ADHD, oppositional, and separation anxiety most common, depression and social phobia least common, pervasive disorders at 7.3%, and 55% of cases comorbid with other disorders.

Abstract

• We investigated the prevalence of<i>DSM-III</i>disorders in 792 children aged 11 years from the general population and found an overall prevalence of disorder of 17.6% with a sex ratio (boys-girls) of 1.7:1. The most prevalent disorders were attention deficit, oppositional, and separation anxiety disorders, and the least prevalent were depression and social phobia. Conduct disorder, overanxious disorder, and simple phobia had intermediate prevalences. Pervasive disorders, reported by more than one source, had an overall prevalence of 7.3%. Examination of background behavioral data disclosed that children identified at 11 years as having multiple disorders had a history of behavior problems since 5 years of age on parent and teacher reports. Fifty-five percent of the disorders occurred in combination with one or more other disorders, and 45% as a single disorder.