Psychopathology among children placed in family foster care.

OBJECTIVE

The literature on psychopathology among children in family foster care published in the last 20 years was reviewed to estimate prevalence and types of psychopathology in this population.

METHODS

A comprehensive computerized database was searched for the period 1974 through 1994, with emphasis on recent literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence suggests that the prevalence of psychopathology among children in family foster care is higher than would be expected from normative data, even when this population is compared with children who have backgrounds of similar deprivation. As for the types of psychopathology in this population, the only apparent trend is the predominance of externalizing disorders, such as disruptive behavior disorders. A combination of social, psychological, and biological factors may render children in family foster care highly vulnerable to psychopathology.