Prevalence of psychiatric disorder: with and without psychosocial impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To identify rates of psychiatric disorder in a representative sample of primary school children in a North of England city.


METHODS
The study obtained multi-criterion screen data on a representative one-in-three sample of 7- and 8-year-old children in Newcastle upon Tyne. It also obtained psychiatric interview data for screen-positive and a proportion of screen negative children. In addition the clinically trained interviewers rated psychiatric impairment.


RESULTS
Estimated rates of disorder with impairment, calibrated to be equivalent to that of children attending local child psychiatric clinics, were 1.2% for emotional disorder, 5.6% for disruptive behaviour disorder and 6.7% for any disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with other contemporary studies using similar impairment criteria.
McArdle
Paul
P
Fleming Nuffield Unit, Tyne House, Northern Counties School for the Deaf, Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 3BB, UK.
Prosser
Jonathan
J
Kolvin
Izzy
I
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population