Prevalence of DSM-IV disorders in children and adolescents with asthma versus diabetes

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between asthma and type and incide nce of psychiatric problems in a pediatric population. Methods: A series of 93 children and adolescents with asthma presenting dur ing a 1-year period to a pediatric pneumology and allergy service was studi ed Their psychopathological problems were compared with those of 93 childre n with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Various questionnaires w ere completed by the patients. the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the St are-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and the Coopersmith Self- Esteem Inventory (SEI). Their parents were administered the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The patients were examined using the revised Kiddie Sched ule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-R). Results: There were more symptoms in the asthma group than in the IDDM grou p, as indicated by total CBCL, scores, internalization and externalization CBCL subscores, and the STAIC scores. Asthma was often associated with Diag nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) psychiatric diso rders. We found 30 anxiety disorders, 5 affective disorders, and 6 disrupti ve behaviour disorders. Asthmatic children did not seem to be more depresse d than the IDDM group, and their self-esteem, overall, was goon. However, t he asthma subgroup presenting with psychiatric disorders had poorer self-es teem and social competence. Adolescents did not seem to suffer more psychia tric disturbances than did younger patients. Girls did nor suffer more psyc hiatric disturbances than did boys. Conclusion: Asthma appears to be associated both with higher overall incide nce of psychiatric problems than in IDDM and with particular categories of psychiatric problems. In particular, the problems include anxiety disorders , internalizing symptoms, and disruptive behaviours.