Child psychiatric disorders and their correlates: a primary care pediatric sample

Psychiatric interviews with 300 parents and children drawn from a first-stage screening sample of 789 children aged 7 to 11 attending primary care pediatric clinics, were carried out using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. The weighted prevalence of one or more DSM-III disorders was 11.8% based on parent interviews, 13.8% based on child interviews, and 22.0% based on either. Correlates of specific disorders varied depending on the informant, but parent-reported stress in the child's life was associated with disorders reported by both parent and child. The study confirms a high rate of unrecognized and untreated child psychopathology in the community.