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Systematic assessment of 50 children with selective mutism
E S Dummit1, R G Klein, N K Tancer
1Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.
Objective:
To clarify the diagnostic significance of selective mutism (elective mutism in DSM-III-R).
Method:
Fifty children with selective mutism were evaluated systematically by means of semistructured clinical interviews and rating scales to obtain detailed diagnostic information.
Results:
All 50 children met DSM-III-R criteria for social phobia or avoidant disorder and 24 (48%) had additional anxiety disorders. Clinical measures of anxiety and behavioral symptoms supported the presence of anxiety disorders as a characteristic of selectivity mute children. Only one case each of oppositional defiant disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was found.
Conclusions:
Persistent selective mutism typically presents in the context of anxiety disorders.