title: Follow-up of preschool children with severe emotional and behavioral symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biological and environmental factors have been related to the persistence of psychopathology in preschool children. The objective of the study was to identify the factors predicting the clinical outcome in preschool inpatients with emotional and behavioral disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight children aged 3 to 6.5 years attending a therapeutic nursery were evaluated. Clinical data were collected from the children's charts, including: biological parameters, developmental milestones, intelligence level, socioeconomic status, and stressful life events. Severity of symptoms at follow-up was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low socioeconomic status, excess stressful life events, and female gender were associated with poor clinical outcome. Biological factors such as pregnancy and birth complications and genetic factors were not significant predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was limited by its retrospective design and small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More effort in social interventions and supportive family therapy may improve the outcome of young children with emotional and behavioral problems.
authors.affiliation: Feinberg Child Study Center, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqwa, Israel. gothelf@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gothelf
authors.forename: Smadar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gertner
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mimouni-Bloch
authors.forename: Ornit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Freudenstein
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yirmiya
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weitz
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyano
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spitzer
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index