[The need for psychotherapy in school-age children].

The article reports the results of an investigation of N = 1.969 school children (aged 6 to 17) of three rural communities, who had been assessed by a German version of the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach u. Edelbrock 1983). It was intended to determine the prevalence of clinical maladjustment and to investigate the effectiveness of selective factors in referring to child psychiatric facilities. The case definition was based on those items (behavior disorders), which were rated as in need for counseling or treatment by experts. After a statistical comparison with a sample of referred children the criterion was set up at two or more of such critical items. 12.7% of the school children fulfilled this condition, but most of them (87.6%) had not used institutional services. The rate of children and adolescents, who need psychotherapy was estimated lower (less than 10%). The readiness to refer clinical maladjusted children to child psychiatric facilities was influenced by age and socio economic status, but not by sex and foreign nationality.