Emotionella störningar hos barn - diagnos, epidemiologi och prognos

Abstract

Emotionella störningar, det vill säga psykiska problem med ångest och oro som centrala symtom, drabbar cirka fern procent av barn i storstäder. Artikeln ger en översikt av kunskapsläget ifråga om diagnos, förekomst och prognos. Behovet av longitudinell forskning om ångest i samarbete mellan barn-, ungdoms- och vuxenpsykiatri betonas.

The area of emotional disorders in childhood is surveyed with respect to diagnosis, prevalence and prognosis. The research that exists is either of a superficial nature or focused only at some relatively circumscribed aspect. It is concluded that longitudinal research from early childhood through adolescence to adulthood of anxiety-dominated disorders is highly warranted. The available data suggest that emotional disorders in childhood are common problems affecting c. one in twenty children and that by and large prognosis is fair. The need for operationalized diagnostic criteria is stressed.