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Citation
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Kashani JH, Beck NC, Hoeper EW, Fallahi C, Corcoran CM, McAllister JA, Rosenberg TK, Reid JC. Am. J. Psychiatry 1987; 144(5): 584-589. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study by Kashani et al. was to identify the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in an adolescent population via use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, third edition. The researchers also aimed to examine correlations between psychiatric disorders and demographic characteristics, the association between psychopathology and physical abuse, different types of conflict resolution of those with disorders, how adolescents with disorders view their parents, as well as general issues concerning adolescent behavior and mental health.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental cross-sectional design was used with a non-probability sample of 150 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 16. Subjects' names were drawn in a systematic fashion to end up with 50 in each age group and 75 of each sex. Participation was solicited by telephone, with an original population of 214 being contacted. Participation rate was 72%. Data were collected both by face-to-face structured psychiatric interviews and by mailed questionnaires, with one parent of the subject also being interviewed. The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents was administered to the subjects, and the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents - Parent Version was used for the subjects' parents. Parents also completed the Child Behavior Profile during the course of the home visit, and provided information about economic and marital status. Questionnaires completed by the subjects included the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Conflict Resolution Scale and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Interrater reliability for the interviewers was established at a level of agreement of at least 95% before the actual study interviews began. A four-point scale was used to rate the mental status of each subject. Subjects were accepted as "cases" if they met DSMIII criteria for a disorder, as well as being rated as needing treatment by at least two interviewers. Two-way contingency tables were analyzed by Chi-Square, with tests for location and confidence intervals for proportions also being determined.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Researchers identified 19% of the population (12 boys and 16 girls) as having a psychiatric disorder and needing treatment. The three most common disorders were conduct disorder, anxiety disorder and depression. The relationship between psychiatric disorder and each of sex, socio-economic status and race was non-significant, and divorce or separation of parents also did not distinguish between those with disorder and those without. However, 43% of adolescents with psychiatric disorders reported physical abuse, whilst only 5% of those without disorder reporting victimization experiences. The relationship between psychiatric disorder and sexual relations was also significant, with 54% of those with disorder and 17% of those without reporting sexual experiences. Subjects with psychiatric disorders also reported daily smoking significantly more than those without disorder (46% and 4% respectively). A significant difference was also found between groups in types of interpersonal interaction. Those with disorder reported using verbal aggression and physical violence for conflict resolution more than those without disorder, and they also had a lower self-concept and described their parents as less caring.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The researchers stress the importance of parental care and high levels of self-concept in the development of children into mentally healthy adolescents and adults. For future studies, the authors recommend the use of trained professionals for interviewing and rating subjects.
EVALUATION:
By employing interviews that were originally designed for clinical populations, the findings may overestimate the prevalence of the disorders in the general community. However, the additional criteria of being considered as needing treatment by at least two mental health professionals to be defined as a case has somewhat remedied this problem. Although the sample is rather small, the statistical analyses are appropriate and provide useful information upon which to base further research. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Psychopathology
KW - Psychosocial Factors
KW - Mental Illness
KW - Domestic Violence Victim
KW - Child Abuse Victim
KW - Child Abuse Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Effects
KW - Juvenile Victim
KW - Demographic Factors
KW - Mental Health
KW - Juvenile Abuse
KW - Depression
Language: en |