Determinants of quality of life in children with psychiatric disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To assess factors that, in addition to childhood psychopathology, are associated with Quality of Life (QoL) in children with psychiatric problems.


METHODS
In a referred sample of 252 8 to 18-year-olds, information concerning QoL, psychopathology and a broad range of child, parent, and family/ social network factors was obtained from children, parents, teachers and clinicians.


RESULTS
Poor child, parent, and clinician reported QoL was associated with child psychopathology, but given the presence of psychopathology, also with child factors, such as low self-esteem, and poor social skills, and family/social network factors, such as poor family functioning, and poor social support. In multiple linear regression analyses the importance of parent factors, such as parenting stress, was almost negligible.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase QoL of children with psychiatric problems, treatment of symptoms is important, but outcome might improve if treatment is also focussed on other factors that may affect QoL. Results are discussed in relation to current treatment programs.
Bastiaansen
Dennis
D
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. d.bastiaansen@erasmusmc.nl
Koot
Hans M
HM
Ferdinand
Robert F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D019727:Proxy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires