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Psychological deviance in children attending general practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

M. E. Garralda*
Affiliation:
University of ManchesterDepartment of Psychiatry (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester
D. Bailey
Affiliation:
University of ManchesterDepartment of Psychiatry (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr M. 13. Garralda, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Blackley, Manchester M9 2AA.

Synopsis

Parental questionnaires identified 22% of children aged 7–12 years attending 8 general practices as psychologically deviant. Most attended for physical complaints. A comparison with general population rates showed that deviant children were over-represented among surgery attenders, particularly in the more socially advantaged areas. This finding may be explained through (1) an excess of somatic symptoms in deviant children; (2) increased parental concern about the child's health as an extension of concern about his behaviour; (3) family stress. These possibilities are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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