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Dysthymic disorder in clinically referred preschool children
J H Kashani1, W D Allan, N C Beck
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65201, USA.
Objective:
This clinical and descriptive study examined the existence, phenomenology, and frequency of dysthymic disorder in a sample of clinically referred preschool children. In addition, the frequency of DSM-IV symptoms and the alternative research criterion for dysthymic disorder were investigated.
Method:
Three hundred consecutive preschool admissions (aged 2 to 6 years) to a child development unit were given a comprehensive evaluation by a treatment team. Data were collected from multiple informants based on the suitability of each source.
Results:
The findings indicated that eight children met criteria for dysthymic disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria and the alternative research criterion for dysthymic disorder.
Conclusions:
The results support the existence of dysthymic disorder in preschool-age children. Recommendations are made for future versions of DSM as well as the appropriateness and significance of various sources of information, such as the child, parents, teachers, and clinician observations, for the evaluation of symptoms of dysthymic disorder in preschoolers.