Table 1.
Characteristics of the sample
| Study sample (N = 244) | Non-participating referrals (N = 741) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | |||
| Age, median (IQR) | 12.8 (9.8–14.6) | 13.5a (9.8–15.8) | – |
| Boys, n (%) | 148 (60.7) | 403 (54.4) | 0.09 |
| Lives with both parents, n (%) | 138 (56.6) | – | – |
| Placed outside the home, n (%) | 21 (8.6) | 55 (7.4) | 0.58 |
| Placed in special education program, n (%) | 43 (17.6) | – | – |
| Born in Denmark, n (%)* | 229 (97.0) | – | – |
| ≥ 1 parent has ≥ 3 years of higher education, n (%) * | 126 (53.4) | – | – |
| Both parent in regular employment, n (%)* | 123 (52.1) | – | – |
| Psychiatric history | – | ||
| Parent reported duration of mental health problems in the child, median years (IQR) | 5.6 (3.1–9.0) | – | – |
| Previously assessed for a mental health disorder | 87 (35.7) | 290 (39.1) | 0.36 |
| Referral | |||
| Referral diagnosis**, n (%) | |||
| Neurodevelopmental disorders | 146 (59.8) | 420 (56.7) | 0.41 |
| Emotional disorders | 74 (30.3) | 193 (26.1) | 0.21 |
| Other | 32 (13.1) | 170 (17.2) | 0.12 |
| Referral source, n (%) | |||
| General practitioner | 122 (50.0) | 421 (56.6) | 0.06 |
| Educational psychologist | 82 (33.6) | 197 (28.2) | 0.04 |
| Other*** | 40 (16.4) | 128 (17.3) | 1.00 |
| Symptom severity (SDQ) | |||
| Total SDQ problem score, n (% above the norm)* | 205 (86.9) | – | – |
| SDQ impairment score, n (% above the norm)* | 202 (85.6) | – | – |
aFor age, it was not possible to separate the study sample from non-participating referrals. Median age indicated is for all eligible referrals in the study period (N = 985)
*236 completed the questionnaire with background information and the SDQ
**Total N > 244 due to co-morbidity. 8 with both neurodevelopmental and emotional disorder as referral reason
***Other: Pediatrician, social services or other mental health services