PHYSICAL COMORBIDITY AND MEDICAL-CARE USE IN CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL-PROBLEMS

AS FAMILY DISRUPTION, violence, and the decline of community become mo re common, an ever-growing number of children are exposed to psycholog ical and social stressors that can lead to serious emotional problems. For many children emotional problems can interfere with normal psycho logical and social development and can have serious long-term effects. In this study data from a large national survey are used to examine p atterns of emotional and physical comorbidity and the uses oi general medical and mental health services by children ages 4 to 11. Results i ndicate that emotional problems are common among children with physica l illnesses and that emotional problems increase general medical care use. Emotional problems are clearly exacerbated by factors associated with poverty. The data also show that a larger proportion of children in single-parent than in two-parent families experience emotional prob lems and use mental health services. We discuss the implications of th ese findings for general pediatric practice.