The outcome of severe internalizing and disruptive disorders from preschool into adolescence: A follow-up study

Purpose: In this study we aimed to examine the outcome of children’s severe psychiatric disorders from preschool into later childhood and adolescence. Method: Forty preschool children (28 boys and 12 girls) treated in a tertiary referral mental health center, evaluated at admission and 5.5 ± 1.2 years thereafter. Results: Seven (58.3%) children diagnosed with internalizing disorders at baseline were free of any psychiatric diagnosis at follow-up (p=0.02). Conversely, only one child (8.3%) diagnosed with comorbid disruptive-internalizing disorders at baseline was free of any psychiatric disorder at follow-up (p=1.0). Seven (43.7%) children diagnosed with disruptive disorders at baseline were free of psychiatric diagnoses at follow-up (p=0.02). Limitations: The small sample size and naturalistic nature of the study. Conclusion: The trajectories of severe psychiatric disorders at preschool years are similar to those reported in community samples and differ according to the baseline diagnosis. Children with internalizing disorders show a much better recovery rate than those with comorbid disruptive and internalizing disorders.