Psychopathology and health care use among preschool children: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between psychopathology and health care utilization beginning in the preschool (ages 2 to 5) years.


METHODS
Five hundred ten preschool children were enrolled through 68 primary care physicians. The test battery used for diagnoses included the Child Behavior Checklist, a developmental evaluation, the Rochester Adaptive Behavior Inventory, and a videotaped play session. Consensus DSM-III-R diagnoses were assigned using best-estimate procedures. Frequency of primary care visits was established through 1-year retrospective record review; mothers estimated total visits and emergency department (ED) use.


RESULTS
Logistic regression models showed that a DSM-III-R diagnosis was related to increased ED use but not primary care or total visits. Greater functional impairment was associated with fewer primary care visits and more ED visits. Total, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problem scores were associated with increased primary care and total visits; ED visits were associated with increased total and internalizing problems. Child's health status consistently correlated with utilization.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a consistent relationship between health care use and child psychopathology beginning in the preschool years.
Lavigne
J V
JV
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA.
Binns
H J
HJ
Arend
R
R
Rosenbaum
D
D
Christoffel
K K
KK
Hayford
J R
JR
Gibbons
R D
RD
D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014600:Utilization Review