Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Mental health concerns in children with neurodevelopmental conditions attending a developmental assessment service
Kelsie A Boulton1, Adam J Guastella1, Marie-Antoinette Hodge2
1Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Child Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Team, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) often have mental health issues. This study found many children attending developmental assessments show significant internalizing and externalizing symptoms, highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), frequently experience co-occurring mental health concerns.
- Limited research has investigated mental health symptoms in children undergoing developmental assessment services.
- This study focuses on mental health symptoms in children attending their first diagnostic and developmental assessment at a hospital-based service.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile mental health symptoms in children with NDCs during their initial developmental assessment.
- To understand the prevalence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in this population.
- To identify factors influencing mental health symptom presentation, such as age and number of diagnoses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a caregiver-rated questionnaire, to assess behavioral and emotional difficulties.
- Assessed 232 children aged 1.96-17.51 years undergoing developmental assessments.
- Analyzed symptom prevalence rates, including internalizing, externalizing, and total scores, and examined differences based on age, gender, and diagnostic status.
Main Results:
- Approximately 48% of preschool and 61% of school-aged children exhibited subclinical or clinically elevated mental health scores on the CBCL.
- These elevated rates persisted even after excluding items related to neurodevelopmental concerns (36% preschool, 37% school-age).
- School-aged females reported more internalizing problems than males (67% vs. 48%), and children with multiple diagnoses showed higher symptom rates.
Conclusions:
- Children attending developmental assessment services have significant and prevalent mental health needs.
- Early identification and intervention for mental health concerns are critical upon initial presentation to these services.
- Service providers must be equipped to offer appropriate resources and pathways for ongoing care for children with NDCs and co-occurring mental health issues.
Abstract:
Children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), frequently experience co-occurring mental health concerns. Little research has examined mental health symptoms in children attending developmental assessment services. This study profiled mental health symptoms in children with NDCs attending a hospital-based diagnostic service for their first diagnostic and developmental assessment. Participants were 232 children aged 1.96-17.51 years. Mental health concerns were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a caregiver-rated, questionnaire-based assessment of behavioural and emotional difficulties. Subclinical or clinically elevated internalising, externalising and total scores on the CBCL were reported in approximately 48% of preschool and 61% of school-age children. These increased prevalence rates, using the same cutoff scores, remained after excluding items specifically relating to neurodevelopmental concerns (36% preschool; 37% school-age children). More school-aged females reported elevated internalising problems, relative to males (67 % vs 48 %). The number of diagnoses impacted symptoms, with children who received two or more DSM-5 diagnoses showing a greater rate of subclinical or clinically elevated scores, relative to children who received one DSM-5 diagnosis. Our findings demonstrate that children attending developmental assessment services have considerable mental health needs. It is critical that mental health concerns are identified and addressed in children when they first present to developmental assessment services, and that service providers are equipped to provide appropriate resources and pathways to ongoing care.
More Related Videos
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
12:55Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:29Intellectual Disability
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...