Emotionele en gedragsproblemen van kinderen in een afdeling Kinder- en Jeugdgeneeskunde

Many children consulting a general practitioner or paediatrician have emotional and behavioural problems. These problems are often associated with somatic complaints. Only a minority of these children receive help for their psychological problems. However, physicians can play a role in the referral and the treatment of the emotional and behavioural problems. In Flanders little research is done on the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in children consulting a physician. This article reports on a study done in three paediatric wards over a period of five months on the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems (n = 316) and the recognition of these problems by the paediatrician (n = 244). Hospitalised children have more emotional and behavioural problems compared with a normal population. Paediatricians recognise only 40 to 50 percent of the children with problems. The use of a screen, a better training in child psychiatric problems but above all a better collaboration with mental health workers could promote their sensitivity. It would help them in fulfilling even better their role in the prevention, treatment and referral of the emotional and behavioural problems of the hospitalised children.