PSYCHIATRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WITH SELECTIVE MUTISM - A PILOT-STUDY

Objective: To ascertain characteristics of children with selective mut ism. Method: Subjects with selective mutism were evaluated by means of parent and teacher rating scales and structured diagnostic interviews . Results: Thirty children were evaluated. Mutism severity varied mark edly in different environmental settings. Ninety-seven percent of the subjects were diagnosed with social phobia or avoidant disorder of chi ldhood or adolescence or both and 30% with simple phobia. No other psy chiatric disorders were common. Parent and teacher rating scales showe d high levels of anxiety symptoms, especially social anxiety, and low levels of all other psychiatric symptoms. Anxiety and social anxiety s everity correlated with mutism severity. First-degree family history o f social phobia and of selective mutism, obtained by family history me thod, was present in 70% and 37% of families, respectively. There was no evidence of a causal relationship between psychologically or physic ally traumatic experiences and development of selective mutism. Conclu sions: Selective mutism may be a symptom of social anxiety, rather tha n a distinct diagnostic syndrome. Further study of the characteristics of children with selective mutism and their families is warranted.