title: ADad 8: School Phobia and Anxiety Disorders among adolescents in a rural community population in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  School Phobia (SP), although is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis, is widely prevalent debilitating phenomenon with a gamut of underlying psychiatric conditions in an overwhelming majority of cases. This study documents the prevalence, symptom presentation and the relationship between the various subtypes of Anxiety Disorders (AD) and School Phobia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective community survey of 500 adolescents, independent raters administered the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children/Present and Lifetime to identify SP and subtype of AD respectively. Descriptive statistics for the prevalence and symptom presentation, Spearman's Correlation test, Independent t tests, on-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were done to compare the prevalence and severity of School Phobia among various age groups and gender. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done for documenting the relationship between the School Phobia and Anxiety Disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  School Phobia was noted in 4.8% of adolescents. Although age was related to SP, gender, school grade the adolescent was attending and family structure were not related to SP. Somatic symptoms were more often noted than cognitive-emotional symptoms among adolescents with SP. Panic Disorder (OR = 8.62), Social Anxiety Disorder (OR = 8.63), and Separation Anxiety Disorder (OR = 6.26), were significantly related to SP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School Phobia is noted in a significant proportion of adolescents in the community. Anxiety Disorder is a major underlying factor resulting in SP. Community and clinical intervention and service models should include anxiety alleviation methods in adolescents with School Phobia.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 011, Kerala, South India, cdcmkc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M K C
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Vinod Shanmukham
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: Suma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazeema
authors.forename: Neethu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chembagam
authors.forename: Sushila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Satya Raj
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: Praveen Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jakati
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult