Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a study of school children in Ribeirão Preto.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to investigate possible child psychiatric disorders using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ).


METHODS
SDQ is a questionnaire that screens child mental health problems, comprising a total of 25 items divided in five subscales: emotional problems, hyperactivity, relationship, conduct and pro-social behavior, with five items in each subscale. We also used the impact supplement that evaluates the impairment caused by symptoms. Out of 143 children randomly chosen from a public school of Ribeirão Preto, 107 questionnaires were correctly filled in by parents. Teachers received 114 questionnaires (regarding children with parents' consent), and 108 questionnaires were correctly filled in. As a final sample, we obtained 112 questionnaires answered by parents or teachers.


RESULTS
In the questionnaires answered by the parents, we obtained high scorings such as 30.8% for emotional symptoms, 17,7% for conduct disorders, 16.8% for hyperactivity, 14% for interpersonal relationships, 18,7% for the total scores and 10.2% for the impact supplement. Questionnaires answered by the teachers had 1.83% for emotional symptoms, 8.25% for conduct disorders, 8.25% for hyperactivity, 2.75% for interpersonal relationships, 8.25% for the total scoring and 4.58% for the impact supplement. Combining the results obtained from parents and teachers we have diagnostic hypotheses in the frequencies of 7.14% for emotional disorders, 9.82% for conduct disorders, and 12.5% for psychiatric disorder not otherwise specified and no combination was noted between parents and teachers for hyperactivity. Mean age was 8.18 years, with 63% of the children being male and 37% female.


CONCLUSIONS
SDQ can be useful for a preliminary screening in the investigation of possible psychiatric disorders in childhood.
Cury
Camilo Ramos
CR
Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo. Child Psychiatry Ambulatory. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Golfeto
José Hércules
JH
D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires