The Finnish National Epidemiological Study of Child Psychiatric Disorders. Results from prevalence screening in northern Finland

Abstract

A joint epidemiological survey of psychiatric disorders in children was started in November 1989 by the child psychiatry units of the five medical faculties in Finland. In this particular part of the survey, conducted in the region served by Oulu University Hospital, the aim was to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. The study series amounted to 1100 8-year-old children, of whom 567 (51.6%) were boys and 533 (48.4%) girls. A two stage study approach for the study itself was designed: firstly a screening stage with questionnaires for parents, teachers and the child, and secondly a thorough interview with a parent and the child. It was found that 25.2% of the children were identified by one, two or three screening instruments as possibly disturbed. Boys were identified more often than girls.