Psychiatric disorder among British children looked after by local authorities: comparison with children living in private households

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychiatric disorder among British children looked after by local authorities: comparison with children living in private households

AU - Ford, T

AU - Vostanis, P

AU - Meltzer, H

AU - Goodman, R

PY - 2007/4

Y1 - 2007/4

N2 - Background Children looked after by local authorities are at higher risk of poor psychosocial outcomes than children living in private households, but nationally representative and random samples of the two groups of children have not previously been compared. Aims To find explanations for the increased prevalence of psychiatric disorder in children looked after by local authorities. Method We examined socio-demographic characteristics and psychopathology by type of placement among children looked after in Britain by local authorities (n=1453), and compared these children with deprived and non-deprived children living in private households (n=10 428). Results Children looked after by local,authorities had higher levels of psychopathology, educational difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorders, and looked after' status was independently associated with nearly all types of psychiatric disorder after adjusting for these educational and physical factors. The prevalence of psychiatric disorder was particularly high among those living in residential care and with many recent changes of placement. Conclusions Our findings indicate a need for greater support of this vulnerable group of children

AB - Background Children looked after by local authorities are at higher risk of poor psychosocial outcomes than children living in private households, but nationally representative and random samples of the two groups of children have not previously been compared. Aims To find explanations for the increased prevalence of psychiatric disorder in children looked after by local authorities. Method We examined socio-demographic characteristics and psychopathology by type of placement among children looked after in Britain by local authorities (n=1453), and compared these children with deprived and non-deprived children living in private households (n=10 428). Results Children looked after by local,authorities had higher levels of psychopathology, educational difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorders, and looked after' status was independently associated with nearly all types of psychiatric disorder after adjusting for these educational and physical factors. The prevalence of psychiatric disorder was particularly high among those living in residential care and with many recent changes of placement. Conclusions Our findings indicate a need for greater support of this vulnerable group of children

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.025023

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.025023

M3 - Article

SN - 1472-1465

VL - 190

SP - 319

EP - 325

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - APR.

ER -