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Re-examining the Epidemiology of Sensory Regulation Dysfunction and Comorbid Psychopathology

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Abstract

The aims of this study were threefold: (1) to compare prevalence of sensory regulation dysfunction based on previously established criteria to rates established with a more representative community sample of 796 4-year-olds; (2) to examine ethnic/racial and gender differences in prevalence according to the different criteria; and (3) to examine the co-occurrence of sensory regulation dysfunction and preschool psychiatric disorders. Prevalence rates ranged from 3.4% (current criteria) to 15.6% (previous criteria). In contrast to previous studies with less representative samples, there were no significant ethnic or racial differences using the current criteria. Boys were more likely to have sensory regulation dysfunction than girls according to all criteria. Depending upon impairment criteria used, 33–63% of children meeting criteria for sensory dysregulation also had a psychiatric disorder; 37–67% had only a sensory dysregulation disorder, indicating that sensory regulation dysfunction exists independent of psychiatric disorder, and is also a significant risk factor for disorder.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Karen R. Gouze & John V. Lavigne

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children’s Memorial Hospital--#10, 2300 Children’s Plaza, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA

    Karen R. Gouze, Susan A. LeBailly & John V. Lavigne

  3. Institute of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA

    Joyce Hopkins

  4. May Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program Children’s Memorial Research Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Susan A. LeBailly & John V. Lavigne

Authors
  1. Karen R. Gouze
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  2. Joyce Hopkins
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  3. Susan A. LeBailly
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  4. John V. Lavigne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen R. Gouze.

Additional information

This study was supported by NIMH RO1 MH 063665, Principal Investigator John V. Lavigne. We thank the Chicago Public Schools Department of Early Childhood Education, along with participating school principals and lead teachers, and the pediatric practices in the Pediatric Practice Research Group who participated in this study.

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Gouze, K.R., Hopkins, J., LeBailly, S.A. et al. Re-examining the Epidemiology of Sensory Regulation Dysfunction and Comorbid Psychopathology. J Abnorm Child Psychol 37, 1077–1087 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9333-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9333-1

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