[Hyperfrequent consultations: is there a relationship with the mother's personality?].
OBJECTIVE
To study the psychological profile of mothers who overuse pediatric services and associated social and demographic characteristics, as well as to evaluate the association between maternal personality profile and greater use of pediatric services.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive study, at the Basic Health Areas of Granollers Sud and Granollers Oest-Canovelles in Barcelona (Spain).


METHODS
Forty-four mothers, representing 21.5 % of the population meeting the inclusion criteria were studied. The population consisted of mothers of children who visited the center on an equal or higher number of occasions as two standard deviations.


METHODS
One-hour interviews were conducted. A data sheet to assess social and demographic variables, Milton's Multiaxial Inventory II, and Goldberg's Anxiety and Depression Scale to detect symptoms of depression and anxiety were administered.


RESULTS
Forty-four mothers (21.5 %) attended the interviews. The mean age was 36.6 years. Most of the mothers (90.9 %) were married, 73 % had completed primary studies, 5 % were housewives, and 75 % had no family support. Fifty percent of the children were the youngest in their family, and 30 % were only children. Concerning personality disorders, 55.8 % of overusing mothers showed compulsive personality, 30.23 % schizoid personality, and 14 % dependent personality while 47.7 % of mothers presented significant symptoms of anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Sociodemographic profile, anxiety, and maternal personality profile are related to overuse of pediatric services. Compulsive, schizoid and dependent personality disorders seem to be associated with overuse.
Igual Rosado
R
R
Facultad de Psicología Blanquerna. Universitat Ramon Llull. Barcelona. Spain.
Castro Nicolau
E
E
Alonso Martínez
I
I
Terradas Corominas
M
M
de Frutos Gallego
E
E
Cebrià Andreu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D013030:Spain