Peer victimization and developmental psychopathology in childhood and adolescence Italian psychiatric emergency unit. A single center retrospective observational study

ABSTRACT

Peer victimization is a public health concern that affects a significant proportion of children and adolescents. The study evaluated the prevalence of peer victimization among 440 subjects referred to Emergency Department for a psychiatric consultation and analyzed the association with psychopathological symptoms. Sample was divided into two categories (6-13 and 14-18 years old). Logistics regression analysis was performed. Peer victimized were reported in 16.3% of subjects; 27.7% were younger than13 years old and 72.3% were between 14-18 years old, representing the main targets for peer victimization.

A significant association was found between being peer victimized and depressive disorder (OR=4.57) in subjects younger than 13 years old and, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)(OR=6.52) in subjects older than 13 years old. Furthermore, linkage between being peer victimized and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)(OR=4.45) was noted. Increased frequency of repeated hospitalizations was also documented.

This is the first Italian study about children and adolescent peer victimization in psychiatric setting, showing a significant higher risk for depressive disorder in subjects younger than 13 years old and PTSD and OCD in subjects older than 13 years old. Investigating experiences of peer victimization provides an early diagnosis and a more efficient treatment plans, guaranteeing an improved clinical outcome.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer victimization
• developmental psychopathology
• children & adolescents
• depressive disorder
• posttraumatic stress disorder

Acknowledgments

No external funding was received for this study. The authors thank all the subjects who participated in this study and the parents for giving their consent. The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical information

Data were collected between January 2016 through December 2017. A. Meyer Children’s Hospital, Florence and University of Florence, Italy. Paediatric Ethics Committee of the Tuscany Region provided ethical approval for the study (CEP 168/2017).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The study was approved by the Paediatric Ethics Committee of the Tuscany Region (Parental and child informed consent were obtained).