Psychological deviance in children attending general practice.

Parental questionnaires identified 22% of children aged 7-12 years attending 8 general practices as psychologically deviant. Most attended for physical complaints. A comparison with general population rates showed that deviant children were over-represented among surgery attenders, particularly in the more socially advantaged areas. This finding may be explained through an excess of somatic symptoms in deviant children; increased parental concern about the child's health as an extension of concern about his behaviour; family stress. These possibilities are discussed.