Psychiatric and behavioral disorders in hospitalized preschoolers with developmental disabilities.

Describes the types of psychiatric and behavioral disturbance present in 169 preschoolers with developmental disabilities admitted to a specialized psychiatric inpatient unit. Differences in the proportion of some diagnoses and behavior problems across cognitive functioning level and across age were found. Seventy-two percent of the sample had one or more medical diagnosis. Similarities and differences with earlier reports in the literature are discussed.