Depressive and anxiety disorders in adolescence: a follow-up study of adolescents with school refusal.
Twenty-five adolescents referred to an outpatient clinic because of school refusal in 1985-1986 were followed up after an average of 5 years. DSM-III diagnoses and scores on the Maudsley Symptom Checklist were obtained at initial contact and a follow-up. At follow-up, information was also gathered on psychosocial adjustment, and subjects completed self-ratings of anxiety and depression. At initial contact, school refusal was associated mainly with anxiety symptoms, and to a lesser extent with depressive and somatoform disorders. No specific relationships were found between diagnoses at baseline and at follow-up. About half of the sample still had a psychiatric disorder at follow-up. Outcome was negatively associated with a history of previous psychosocial or psychiatric treatment and a small family size, and positively with a history of frequent somatic complaints.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Utrecht University Hospital, The Netherlands.
J K
JK
Buitelaar
H
H
van Andel
J H
JH
Duyx
D C
DC
van Strien
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013334:Students