[Psychosomatic disorders in children at the start of school: results of questionnaire assessment for early detection].

In a study based on a random sample of children soon to enter first grade a questionnaire designed to elicit information on children's health was filled out by the parents of 590 children (mean age 5-6 years). The subjects were then assigned to mutually exclusive subgroups based on their major current health problem or the absence of any problem (control group). Physical, emotional and psychosocial risk factors in the history of the subjects and of the control group of healthy children were compared. In addition to a general scale of risk factors a special subscale for functional disorders and infectious diseases (e.g. colds) was developed. The findings on the two scales are discussed with reference to developmental factors and the severity and persistence of various disorders.