Growing up in Uppsala. Part II. Could adolescents with severe psychosocial problems have been identified by symptoms observed in school at age 10 years?

Abstract

The study comprised all 1715 children born in 1965 and resident in Uppsala at age 10 and 18 years. Data were collected through teacher interviews and analysis of school health records in grade 3 at the age of 10 years. The psychosocial burden up to the age of 18 years was assessed on the basis of all registered contacts with official institutions outside school (authorities for care of the handicapped, Department of Child Psychiatry, social agencies, legal authorities). Approximately 12% of the adolescents were clearly in a situation of manifest psychosocial risk on the threshold of adult life. These adolescents were assigned to five mutually exclusive problem groups comprising different sex distribution, symptoms and utilization of institutional care. The analysis of the relationship between data from grade 3 and the psychosocial burden up to 18 years of age showed that the information available to the school did not permit reasonably secure predictions of the child's psychosocial situation at the end of adolescence. Observations in school of pre-adolescent children cannot be used as a basis for risk-group strategies aiming at concentrating early treatment measures and resources to a restricted number of children at risk. However, the prognosis is apparently serious for a limited number of 10-year-olds with serious problems in school.

Growing up in Uppsala: The “New Morbidity” in the Adolescent Period A Longitudinal Epidemiological Study Based on School Data and Some External Sources

“…One particular aspect, the association between psychosocial factors and weight increase during school years, was analysed by Mellbin & Vuille (1989a, 1989b. Finally, Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille (1992a, 1992b investigated the health, development and social adjustment of the cohort born in 1965 and resident in Uppsala from 10 up to 18 years.…”

“…(Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille 1992a. ) In a second study (Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille 1992b), the authors presented an analysis of the relationships between the six subgroups relating to psychosocial problems up to 18 years and observations in school at 10 years. The population studied was the same as before, i.e.…”

“…1, since this latter number includes mild problems too. Data gathering was finished in February, 1987, and has been reported on in greater detail by Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille (1992a, 1992bcf. chapter 2).…”

“…Table 34. Definition of high-risk and low-risk groups on the basis of the "Total school disorder index" (TSDI) computed from 10-year data (Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille 1992b Interventions were defined in terms of selected descriptors from the educational, psychological and social areas. They included the following:…”

“…Psychosocial problems were defined in terms of handicap, psychiatric and/or social problems or delinquency up to 18 years. The subjects were classified into six outcome categories, interpreted as mutually exclusive, according to principles previously developed by Mellbin, Sundelin & Vuille (1992a, 1992b. Only moderate and severe problems were considered in the classification, mild problems being assigned to the "Normal" category.…”