Table 4.

Lifetime use of mental health services among children receiving specialty outpatient mental health services, by age^a

	Younger (N=210)		Older (N=497)
Variable	N	%	N	%	p
Age at first use of services (M±SD)	3.01±1.04		3.11±1.63		.652
Age <6 years at first use of services	51	98	73	92	.243
Ever seen a psychiatrist	108	51	303	61	.019
Ever hospitalized for mental health problem	13	6	53	11	.062
Age at first inpatient hospitalization (M±SD)	5.54±1.51		8.23±2.30		<.001
Age <6 years at first inpatient hospitalization	6	46	8	16	.028
Use of medication at study entry	130	62	318	64	.600
Use of outpatient mental health services  prior to study entry	171	81	426	86	.151
Use of school services prior to study entry	94	45	254	51	.124
Specialty outpatient mental health services
Multiple types	88	42	263	53	.007
Age at first use (M±SD)	5.54±1.30		7.22±2.45		<.001
Age <6 years at first use	81	42	125	26	<.001
Mental health care services in general medical settings					.646
Services used
0	79	38	203	41
1	120	57	265	53
2	11	5	29	6
Age at first use (M±SD)	4.73±1.49		6.36±2.49		<.001
Age <6 years at first use	84	65	118	40	<.001

^aYounger children were ages 6 or 7; older children were ages 8–12.