Skip Navigation



Family Practice Advance Access published online on June 17, 2005
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmi045
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
22/5/498    most recent
cmi045v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zwaanswijk, M.
Right arrow Articles by Verhulst, F. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zwaanswijk, M.
Right arrow Articles by Verhulst, F. C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Received November 2, 2004
Revised January 28, 2005
Accepted April 21, 2005

Article

Consultation for and identification of child and adolescent psychological problems in Dutch general practice

Marieke Zwaanswijk 1*, Peter F. M. Verhaak 2, Jan van der Ende 3, Jozien M. Bensing 2, and Frank C. Verhulst 3

1 Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), PO Box 1568, 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2 Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), PO Box 1568, 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands
3 Erasmus MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Marieke Zwaanswijk, E-mail: m.zwaanswijk{at}nivel.nl


  Abstract

Background. Child and adolescent psychological problems are rarely brought to the attention of GPs. Children and adolescents with psychological problems who do visit their GP are seldom identified as such by GPs.

Objective. To investigate in a general population sample of 2,449 Dutch children and adolescents (4-17 years) GP consultation and GP diagnoses of child psychological problems, and the influence of child and family characteristics upon these variables.

Methods. The degree to which parent, teacher, and adolescent reports of the presence of child psychological problems are in concordance with GP diagnoses of these problems was determined. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine correlates of GP consultation and psychological diagnoses.

Results. Approximately 80% of children and adolescents with psychological problems had visited their GP within the preceding year. GP consultation was most strongly associated with child/adolescent chronic physical disorders. Concordance between GP psychological diagnoses and parent, teacher, and adolescent reports of psychological problems was limited. Children and adolescents with psychological problems according to parent or teacher report, children with school problems, young boys, adolescents with negative health perceptions, and adolescents from single parent families were more likely to be diagnosed with psychological problems by GPs.

Conclusion. Improving GPs' interview techniques, introducing standardised screening measures in general practice, increasing GPs' awareness of the possible presence of psychological problems in children consulting for physical problems, and strengthening collaboration between GPs and mental health professionals may increase GP identification of child psychological problems and enhance access to care for those in need.

Keywords: Child development; clinical diagnosis; consultation; mental health; public health.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Fam PractHome page
K. Lykke, P. Christensen, and S. Reventlow
"This is not normal ... "--Signs that make the GP question the child's well-being
Fam. Pract., June 1, 2008; 25(3): 146 - 153.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.