School Refusal in Child and Adolescent Patients at Ramathibodi Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To study characteristics of child and adolescent patients who were diagnosed with school refusal at the psychiatric unit, Ramathibodi Hospital.

Methods: This is a chart review of patients who were diagnosed school refusal. All subjects, both inpatients and outpatients, received psychiatric care at Ramathibodi hospital during January 2007 to October 2010.

Results: There were 17 subjects. School refusal occurred equally among boys and girls. The referral age ranged between 8 and 16 years (mean 11.6 years). Most of the subjects were in grade 3-6. About 60% of the subjects had chronic onset. Most of the subjects, about 70%, had peer problems at school and about 40% of the subjects had precipitating traumatic events at school before developing school refusal. The most common family pattern was conflicts family which was found in 53% of the subjects. In addition, school refusal was associated with several psychiatric disorders especially learning disorder and separation anxiety disorder which were subsequently found co-occurring 53% and 35% respectively.

Conclusion: School refusal forms a heterogeneous group of youth and is associated with several psychiatric disorders.