Systematic assessment of 50 children with selective mutism.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the diagnostic significance of selective mutism (elective mutism in DSM-III-R).


METHODS
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.
Dummit
E S
ES
Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.
Klein
R G
RG
Tancer
N K
NK
Asche
B
B
Martin
J
J
Fairbanks
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009155:Mutism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012792:Shyness; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology*