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Child demographics and DSM diagnosis: A multiaxis study

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Abstract

Using all five axes of the DSM-III, this study explored variations by gender, race age, and socioeconomic status in diagnoses given to children at an outpatient child guidance clinic. Overall, boys, minorities, and low income children were more likely to receive the more serious diagnoses on the DSM-III and to be given the diagnoses that are least likely to go into remission with the passage of time. Alternative explanations for these findings of differences are discussed, and implications for practice and research are identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington University, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, 63130, St. Louis, MO

    Enola K. Proctor PhD, Nancy R. Vosler PhD & Susan Murty MSW

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  1. Enola K. Proctor PhD
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  2. Nancy R. Vosler PhD
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  3. Susan Murty MSW
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Research for this article was supported by a faculty research grant from The George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.

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Proctor, E.K., Vosler, N.R. & Murty, S. Child demographics and DSM diagnosis: A multiaxis study. Child Psych Hum Dev 22, 165–183 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705890

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705890

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