title: [Adoption and behavioural disturbances in adolescence. A hospital patient sample].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of adoptions has increased in the Western world in recent decades. An over-representation in mental health services and an increased risk of displaying behavioural disorders has been reported among adopted adolescents. In this study, we aim to assess the proportions of adopted and non-adopted adolescents and the presence of externalizing disorders in an inpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective data were collected over 56 months (n=431) from all adolescent admissions (12-17 years of age) to the Child and Adolescent's Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, which serves the Biscay province (Basque Country, Spain). The sample was divided into adopted (2.6%) and non-adopted adolescents (97.4%), and the following variables were compared: age, gender, cause of admission, prior admissions, main diagnosis, drug use and Overt Aggression Scale score at admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adopted adolescents were over-represented in our sample (2.84% vs. 0.6% in the general population of Biscay, P<.001). Compared to the non-adopted, age at admission was significantly lower (14.09 vs. 15.21 years old, P=.017) and they showed a statistical tendency to be admitted more frequently for behavioural disorders (63.6% vs. 38.1%, P=.086).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The over-representation and the earlier age at admission suggest that the conditions of adopted adolescents are more serious and-or adoptive families are less able to manage them. The data also show that they tend to be admitted more for behavioural disorders, whilst no significant differences in the diagnosis on discharge were found, which suggests that they tend to externalise their symptoms more.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España. Electronic address: aranzazu.fernandezrivas@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández Rivas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erkoreka
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vivanco González
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landa Aqueche
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sesma Pardo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez Cabeza
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kerexeta
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González Torres
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Adolescent; Adolescente; Adopción; Adoption; Alteraciones de conducta; Behaviour disorders; Hospitalisation; Hospitalización