Frequency of mental health disorders in a sample of elementary school students receiving special educational services for behavioural difficulties.
OBJECTIVE
Despite being essential for defining and planning special educational services, very few data are available in Quebec regarding the nature and extent of behavioural difficulties presented by children who receive special educational services at school. This study provides a picture of the frequency of disruptive behaviour disorders (that is, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], oppositional defiant disorder [ODD], and conduct disorder [CD]) and internalized disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder [GAD] and major depressive episode [MDE]) in a sample of elementary school students receiving special educational services for behavioural difficulties (n = 324).


METHODS
In this descriptive study, we established the presence of mental health disorders according to teacher-, parent-, and child-reported data that were obtained using structured diagnostic interviews based on DSM-IV criteria. We also examined prevalence rates by sex and age group.


RESULTS
Three-quarters of the students met the criteria for ADHD, one-half for ODD, and one-third for CD. About 14% of the students presented with a GAD or met the criteria for an MDE in the past year. Only 2% of the students presented with an internalized disorder without a comorbid disruptive behaviour disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that among students receiving special educational services for behavioural difficulties, a large proportion may have difficulties severe enough to meet the criteria for at least one DSM-IV disruptive behaviour disorder. Such findings may underscore the need to develop more collaboration between the mental health and education sectors in rehabilitating these children.
Déry
Michèle
M
Research Centre on Childhood's Behavior Disorders, Department of Psychoeducation, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec. Michele.Dery@USherbrooke.ca
Toupin
Jean
J
Pauzé
Robert
R
Verlaan
Pierrette
P
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*