DSM-III-R disorders, social factors and management of school attendance problems in the normal population.

Eighty 13-15-year-old children who failed to attend one of four schools for more than 40% of a term, without good reason, were studied. A systematic schedule (C.A.P.A.) was used in interviewing parents and children. Twenty-five had DSM-III-R Disruptive Behaviour Disorders and 15 had Anxiety/Mood Disorders. Truancy was associated with the former and school refusal with the latter but both often occurred without any Disorder. Fourteen children had neither school refusal nor truancy. Compared to controls, poor attenders came from materially disadvantaged homes. School refusal with anxiety disorders rarely received psychiatric treatment. Non-disturbed absentees were not usually dealt with appropriately.