Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The changing nature of diagnosis in an inpatient service over 20 years

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined factors related to mental illness in children and adolescents. A survey of all 362 files of child and adolescent patients discharged from a single residential treatment facility in 1961–1962, 1971–1972, and 1978 revealed several major diagnostic trends. The proportion of cases diagnosed as schizophrenic decreased by onethird, those diagnosed as neurotic increased over tenfold, and significant increases occurred in the proportion of children diagnosed as autistic, personality disorder, and behavior disorder of childhood and adolescence. There was a decrease in cases between 6 and 12 years of age and a significant increase in 13 to 18-year-olds. The relative importance of symptoms appeared to be interpreted differently at various times. Significant changes were also found in treatment length, in medications used, and in a number of factors related to the characteristics of the family.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington, D. C.: Author, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental diaroders (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beitchman, J., Bell, K., & Simeon, S. Types of disorders and demographic variables in a Canadian child psychiatry population.Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 1978,23, 91–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, J. D. On changes in psychiatric diagnosis over time.American Psychologist, 1978,33, 1017–1031.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenner, N. H.Mental illness and the economy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brill, N. Q., & Glass, J. F. Hebephrenic schizophrenic reactions.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1965,12, 545–551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cautela, J. R., & Upper, D.A behavioral coding system. Boston: 1973.

  • Cornbleth, T. A psychosocial problem catalogue.Journal Supplemental Abstract Services, 1975,5, ms. no. 1028.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creak, M. Schizophrenic syndrome in childhood: Progress report of the working party.Cerebral Palsy Bulletin, 1961,3, 501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, D., and Gunderson, E. K. E. The use of the eighth revision International Classification of Disease adapted for use in the United States for psychiatric disorders in the Navy.Military Medicine, 1971,Sept., 745-753.

  • Goldhammer, H., & Marshall, A. W.Psychosis and civilization: Two studies in the frequency of mental disease. Glencoe, Illinois: Free Press, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinker, R. R., Sr. Changing styles in psychoses and borderline states.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1973,130, 151–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, T. H., & Rahe, R. H. The social adjustment rating scale.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1967,11, 213–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolvin, I. Studies in the childhood psychoses. I. Diagnostic criteria and classification.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1971,118, 381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolvin, I., Ounsted, C, Richardson, L., & Garside, R. F. Studies in the childhood psychoses. III. The family and social background in childhood psychoses.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1971,118, 396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuriansky, J. B., Deming, E., & Gurland, B. J. On trends in the diagnosis of schizophrenia.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1974,131, 402–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, J. R. Changes in sub-type diagnosis of schizophrenia: 1920–1966.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1974,131, 674–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, I. G., Johnson, J. H., & Siegel, J. M. Assessing the impact of life changes: Development of the life experiences survey.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1978,46, 932–946.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schechtman, A. Age patterns in children's psychiatric symptoms.Child Developmnet, 1970,41, 683–693.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamsie, S. J. (Ed.).Experience and experiment. A collection of essays. Toronto: Crainford, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization.International classification of diseases (8th rev.). Washington, D.C.: Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization.International classification of diseases (9th rev.). Geneva: WHO, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thistletown Regional Centre, 51 Panorama Court, M9V 4L8, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada

    Steven J. Stein & Cynthia McNairn

Authors
  1. Steven J. Stein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cynthia McNairn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The authors wish to express their appreciation to Carm Gaspari for her assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stein, S.J., McNairn, C. The changing nature of diagnosis in an inpatient service over 20 years. J Abnorm Child Psychol 11, 443–461 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00914251

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00914251

Keywords

Search

Navigation