Children with psychiatric disorders in primary care.

A substantial minority (23%) of children between 7 and 12 years of age attending general practice were found to have psychiatric disorders. Disturbance was slightly more frequent in girls than in boys, and emotional disorder was the most common diagnosis. Psychiatric disorder was associated with psychological disadvantage (broken homes, the child had lived away from the family, family history of psychiatric disorder) and with current high levels of parental stress in relation to their children. Disturbed children tended to present with symptoms of anxiety, bed-wetting, hayfever, nosebleeds or scabies. Amongst a subsample of children consulting in general practice, psychiatric disorder may be a relevant factor contributing to somatic consultation.