PREVALENCE RATES AND CORRELATES OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AMONG PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

Objective: To determine the prevalence acid correlates of psychiatric disorders among preschool children in a primary care pediatric sample. Method: In a two-stage design, 3,860 preschool children were screened ; 510 received fuller evaluations. Results: For quantitative assessmen t of disorder (greater than or equal to 90th percentile), prevalence o f behavior problems was 8.3%. ''Probable'' occurrence of an Axis I DSM -III-R disorder was 21.4% (9.1%, severe). Logistic regression analyses indicated significant demographic correlates for quantitative outcome s (older age, minority status, male sex, low socioeconomic status, fat her absence, small family size) but not for DSM-III-R diagnoses. Mater nal and family characteristics were generally not significant. Child c orrelates included activity level, timidity, persistence, and IQ. Conc lusions: Overall prevalence of disorder was consistent with rates for older children; correlates varied by approach used for classification.