title: Child and adolescent psychiatry and family status: a nationwide register-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Much attention has been given to parental separation as a possible risk factor for adverse child development; however, little information is available regarding the family status of children referred to psychiatric facilities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between psychiatric illness in childhood and family status compared to the background population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was derived from a national register on children referred to psychiatric facilities in Denmark and a databank containing detailed statistical information on the Danish society.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regardless of age significantly fewer children with psychiatric illnesses lived with both biological parents as compared to the background population (51.1% vs 73.3%). There were no gender differences. Analyses of the specific diagnoses association with family status revealed only few significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatrically ill children are at increased risk of not living with both biological parents independent of age of the child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark. barbara.hoff@psy.ku.dk
authors.forename: Barbara Hoff
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Esbjorn
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoeyer
authors.forename: Jorgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyrborg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012042:Registries; D020954:Single-Parent Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*