Behavioral disturbances among medically hospitalized school-age children

The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral disturbances of medically hospitalized school-age children. Seventy-six school-age children, between the ages of 8 and 12, were the subjects. The children's usual prehospital behavior was reported by their mothers who completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The hospitalized children were compared with the standardized nonclinical norms on the CBCL. Fifty-one percent of the children scored in the clinical range on one or both of the broad bands measuring behavioral disturbances: 21% on externalizing symptoms and 47% on internalizing symptoms. Total behavior problems and externalizing behavior were slightly associated with low socioeconomic status but not with the number of previous hospitalizations. Internalizing problems were not related to socioeconomic status nor the number of previous hospitalizations. The need for specialized mental health services to this population is discussed.