title: [Behavioral disorders in infants and young children: a contribution to psychopathology of early childhood].
abstract: In a study on the psychological development of children born at biological and psychosocial risk adverse temperamental characteristics and psychopathological symptoms of 362 children were determined at the ages of 3 and 24 months. Adverse temperamental characteristics were measured with the help of behavioral observations in standardized situations. Symptoms were assessed in a highly structured parent interview. The results showed a higher-than-average rate of disturbed children, which increased from 15.5% at the age of 3 months to 19.5% at two years. Hyperkinesis was the most prevalent disturbance. Whereas no sex effect was found among infants, the 2-year-old boys manifested more symptoms and had more adverse temperamental characteristics than the 2-year-old girl. Sex differences in symptom patterns were similar to those seen in later childhood. The course of early disturbances was characterized by low persistence and stability. Four fifths of all infant disturbances had remitted by the age of two years. A small number of early problems (i.e. eating disorders) turned out to be predictive of later disorders.
authors.affiliation: Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrische Klinik des Zentralinstituts für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laucht
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013694:Temperament
vernacular_title: Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei Säuglingen und Kleinkindern: Ein Beitrag zu einer Psychopathologie der frühen Kindheit.