Chronic physical illness and mental health in children. Results from a large-scale population study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in detecting emotional and behavioural problems among children with chronic illness (CI).


METHODS
Parents and teachers of a population of primary school children in Norway (n = 9430) completed a questionnaire including the SDQ, and a question about chronic illness. A total of 74% (n = 7007) of the parents participated. A sub-sample (n = 1040) was given a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation according to the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA).


RESULTS
According to parent reports, 537 (8%) children had a CI. The SDQ revealed an increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems in children with CI as compared with non-CI peers, both among boys (OR = 2.10 CI 95% 1.56-2.83) and girls (OR = 2.11 CI 95% 1.49-2.99). Children with CI also showed an increased risk of psychiatric disorder as assessed by the DAWBA (OR = 1.70 CI 95% 1.04-2.85). Both the sensitivity and specificity of the SDQ in predicting a psychiatric diagnosis were high, even when only information from parents was included.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with CI in the general population are at increased risk of behavioural and emotional problems and psychiatric disorders. Given its high sensitivity and specificity the SDQ might work well as a screening instrument for behaviour/emotional problems and psychiatric disorder in children with CI.
Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Neuropsychological phenotyping group, University of Bergen, Norway. mari.hysing@psybp.uib.no
Mari
M
Hysing
Irene
I
Elgen
Christopher
C
Gillberg
Stein Atle
SA
Lie
Astri J
AJ
Lundervold
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires