[Children with psychiatric disorders examined by established pediatricians]

Studies concerning children with psychological disorders presented in the paediatric practice are rare. We therefore investigated rates of attendance and rates of referral to other specialists from theses practices.

The data were collected by the paediatricians and recorded according to a list of psychosocial symptoms. Frequencies were compared with results of a similar study concerning general practitioners. The chi-square seemed to be appropriate as test of significance.

18 paediatricians were included in the study. 8.3% of children seen by these professionals were thought to show signs of psychological deviance. The accompanying physical disorders hereby were the more prominent presenting symptoms. Only in 1.3% of the cases were psychological disorders the sole reason for the visit. In 30% of the cases were psychological problems a follow up referral to another institution was recommended. Rates of attendance and of follow-up referral were more frequent in rural practices than in practices of a university town. In general practices, 20.3% of children were noted as psychologically disturbed.

The study reveals the important role played by paediatric practices in the mental health care, especially in rural regions. The low rate of psychological disorders as the only reason for attending a paediatric practice indicates that there may be an attendance pattern in which physical symptoms are initially used as a vehicle for subsequently presenting psychological disturbance.