Psychiatric hospital care among children and adolescents in Finland: a nationwide register study

Abstract

This register study includes all patients under 18 years in Finland discharged from psychiatric inpatient treatment in 1990 (n = 818) and 1993 (n = 958). The prevalence of children and adolescents in the population who had previously been treated was about 7–8 per 10,000. The incidence of new cases of children and adolescents who had previously been inpatients within the last year was about 5–6 per 10,000 in this age group. The prevalence was lowest in the preschool group (about 1:10,000) and highest in the adolescent group (about 12–14:10,000). About two-thirds of inpatients were boys. Adjustment disorders (DSM-III-R) were the most common diagnosis both in 1990 and 1993 (about 30%). Mood and anxiety disorders were the second most frequent (19–23%) and disruptive behaviour disorders the third most frequent (13–15%) diagnostic category. The diagnostic profiles differed largely according to sex and age.