A longitudinal analysis of selected risk factors for childhood psychopathology

Eight-year and two-year longitudinal analyses of prevalence and risk factors for adult and adolescent psychopathology were carried out for a random sample of 776 children drawn from households in New York State. A 17.7% prevalence rate for one or more DSM-III disorders was estimated. In general, the risk factors studied were more related to externalizing than internalizing diagnoses. Risk factors assessed over 8-year and 2-year intervals were very similar.