The predictive social and emotional measures in toddlerhood for psychiatric morbidity in adolescence

Objective:  We aimed to determine the predictive factors for psychiatric problem severity and/or clinical approval 10 years after first assessment between ages 1-4 years. Method:  The children that were assessed with the CBCL and the BITSEA in their 1-4 years of age were included. The follow-up assessments were made by telephone interviews 10 years later by child psychiatry residents. The primary caregivers responded the follow-up questionnaire items, such as social/academic/behavioral functioning and self-esteem and the items regarding the psychiatric approval, diagnosis, and treatment history. Results:  The CBCL-Internalizing scores in toddlerhood were found to be significantly inversely correlated with social and behavioral functioning level and self-esteem scores. The paternal and maternal BITSEA-Competence scores were found to be positively correlated with social and academic functioning. The CBCL Withdrawn/Depressed points at first evaulation were determined to be statistically significantly predictive for psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusion:  The study revealed that some measures including CBCL and BITSEA completed in toddlerhood significantly indicate the children under risk of psychiatric morbidity in adolescence. Therefore, we conclude that the widespread use of this assessment measures in toddlers and the referral of the group under risk to the psychiatry units for further investigations could be useful preventive interventions.