MENTAL HEALTH MORBIDITY IN CHILDREN: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY IN CHILD PSYCHIATRY CLINIC

Objectives: To determine the frequency and pattern of mental health morbidity in children attending "Psychiatry Clinic" in Paediatric OPD of a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at psychiatric clinic of Paediatric OPD at civil hospital Karachi. Two hundred children upto the age of 14 years were included in the study. These children were assessed by a semi-structured interview based on P-CHIPS ( Child Interview for Psychiatric Syndrome) and diagnosis of various psychiatric illnesses was further confirmed by DSMIV diagnostic criteria. Results: Psychiatric disorders were more frequent in males 126 (63%) compared to females 74 (37%). Majority of patients affected were between 5-10 years of age (62.5%). Among the psychiatric disorders, oppositional defiant disorders were (20%), ADHD were (17%), elimination disorders and anxiety disorders were (11%) each. Other less frequent psychiatric problems were mood disorder, somatoform disorders, specific developmental disorders, emotional and habit disorders. Conclusion: Mental health morbidity is an important issue in children attending the psychiatry clinic in the Paediatric OPD. Sensitization of parents, teachers and physicians is required, so that timely referral for psychiatric consultation is ensured before a critical illness develops.