Association of Psychosocial Factors in Developing Childhood Depression and ADHD in a Community Low Income Family Children

OVJECTIVES: As the attention devoted to children's mental health increases, medical costs and burdens mount as well. In the present study, we evaluated the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and major child psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: The subjects of this study were children of recruited from a mental health screening program in the Seoul Sungbuk mental health center over the course of 3 months. To establish the SES of each child, we collected data about each child's medical insurance, years of parental education, household income, family structure and housing. 149 children& parents completed questionnaires including the Childhood Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Korean Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (K-ARS). RESULTS: The mean K-ARS-P score was 12.1+/-11.1 and the suspected prevalence of ADHD was 20.8% (n=31). The mean CDI score was 12.9+/-7.9, and the prevalence of suspected depression was 16.8% (25). Depressive symptoms and ADHD symptoms were both more severe than those observed in a previous epidemiologic study in Korea. Depressive symptoms were more closely associated with family SES status. CONCLUSION: SES status is one of the most important risk factors in the development of major child psychiatric symptoms. In our study we found that depressive symptoms in particular were most tightly associated with psychosocial factors. Evaluation of the risk factors, early screening and intervention for low SES children would be valuable mental health management tactics to implement in a community mental health system.

Health status and behavior of homeless in Seoul

BACKGROUND: Since recent economic crisis(IMF) in Korea, the number of new homeless is increasing(that is, 'IMF style homeless'). There are only few studies on the health problem of this uniquely formed population. We have attempted to estimate the problem of health behavior and health status of this population. METHODS: Some homeless who agreed to enter the asylum during the winter were taken for medical check-up in Sungbuk Community Health Center from November to December, 1998. The participants filled up a self-reported questionnaire and physical examination, laboratory test, and chest x-ray were performed. RESULTS: Among 'IMF style homeless', the prevalence of hypertension(30.9% in primary screening, 7.3% in secondary screening), diabetes mellitus(9.4% in primary screening, 3.5% in secondary screening), syphilis(7.3%), and hepatitis B antigen carrier(5.3%) was higher than among the general population. But we could not find statistical difference according to the duration of homelessness. We found higher smoking rate and higher alcohol drinking amount per week in homeless than in the general population. The amount of alcohol drinking per week was larger among those who had been homeless for more than 3 months(p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic diseases in homeless was higher than in the general population, but statistical difference according to the duration of homelessness could not be found. The longer the duration of homelessness, the larger the amount of alcohol drinkin was seeng.