DSM-IV symptoms in-community and clinic preschool children

Objective: To describe and compare ratings of psychiatric symptoms in commu nity and clinic samples (ages 3-6 years) using a DSM-IV-referenced rating s cale. Method. Parent (/and teacher) ratings were obtained for community (N = 531/398) and special education (N = 64/140) samples (1995-1997) and an ou tpatient clinic (N = 224/189) sample (1994-1996). Results, Age and socioeco nomic status were only minimally (r < 0.20) correlated with ratings of psyc hopathology. The most commonly endorsed symptom categories were attention-d eficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, anxiet y disorder, conduct disorder (teacher), and pervasive developmental disorde r (clinic). Groups were easily differentiated by the rate and severity of s ymptoms (clinic > special education > community). Males generally received higher scores than females (especially teacher ratings). Children with ADHD symptoms had higher ratings of impairment (developmental deficits) than th e non-ADHD group. Conclusions: Although these findings share a number of si milarities with studies of older children, there are also differences that attest to the uniqueness of this age group.