Changes in referrals to child and adolescent psychiatric services in Norway 1992--2001.
BACKGROUND
The study analyzes changes in types of problems referred to child and adolescent psychiatry in Norway from 1992 to 2001, and investigates if referral practices and media attention account for these changes.


METHODS
All referrals to child and adolescent psychiatry in Norway in the period 1992--2001 were analyzed, as well as frequencies of articles in media on psychiatric problems.


RESULTS
The shares of referrals for sadness/depression increased from 0.5 % to 15.4 %. Referrals for hyperactivity/attention problems increased from 1.2 % to 13.6 %. The increases could be statistically attributed to decreased use of other referral categories, and/or alternatively to media attention on these and related topics. Convergence between diagnosis and corresponding referral problem increased in the period.


CONCLUSIONS
Referrals for sadness/depression and hyperactivity/attention problems increased sharply in Norway during the 1990s. This increase may be attributed to a different understanding of and a sharper look at these problems by referral agencies and by increased media attention.
Reigstad
Bjørn
B
Dept of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 8000 Bodø, Norway. bre@nlsh.no
Jørgensen
Kirsti
K
Wichstrøm
Lars
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015706:Bibliometrics; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis