Recorded presentation

Marleen Radigan, MS, MPH, School of Public Health, SUNY ALBANY, PO Box 38086, Albany, NY 12203, 815-486-9012, msr09@health.state.ny.ys

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to determine the trends and relative risk of discharge for children hospitalized in New York State (NYS) with a primary diagnosis of mental and emotional disorder.

Methods: A population-based hospital discharge system was utilized to identify children (1-19 years old) who were discharged from NYS acute care hospitals with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder (N=111,165) during a 10-year study period (1990-1999). Mental disorders were classified according to DSM-IV criteria into 14 disorder categories. The relative risk of discharge was calculated for each disorder category by demographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity and NYS region). Linear and log-linear regression methods were utilized to model the trends in discharge over time.

Results: The population rate per 10,000 of hospitalization for mental disorder in children increased from 18.5 in 1990 to 31.9 in 1999. The hospitalization rate for mental disorder in children varied markedly by disorder category and demographic factors. African-American children had a relative risk of discharge ranging from three to five times greater compared to whites for schizophrenia and conduct disorder. In terms of age, throughout the study period, the highest rate of ADHD was found for the 6 to 11 year group (1990: 1.0 and 1999: 4.2). However, the largest rate increase for ADHD over the study period was found in the 1 to 5 year old group (1990: 0.09 and 1999: 0.64).

Conclusions: Hospitalization for mental disorder is increasing on a population basis for children in NYS. Sub-populations at elevated risk for hospitalization were identified.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify trends in hospitalization for mental and emotional disorder in children over time;
• Identify sub-populations in need of primary and secondary prevention efforts to ensure proper identification and treatment of mental health problems.

Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation