Views on aetiology, problem description, and classification systems employed among paediatricians and child psychiatrists
| Paediatricians (n = 93) | Child psychiatrists (n = 323) | |
|---|---|---|
| *p = <0.01. | ||
| Aetiology of attentional difficulties | ||
| Mainly biological | 22 (24%) | 120 (37%) |
| Mainly environmental | 3 (3%) | 13 (4%) |
| Mixture | 65 (70%) | 181 (56%) |
| How are problems described? | ||
| Problem list only | 12 (13%) | 13 (4%) |
| DSM label only | 41 (44%) | 140 (43%) |
| ICD label only | 2 (2%) | 22 (7%) |
| Other (including mixture) | 36 (39%) | 146 (45%) |
| Classification system used | ||
| DSM type | 31 (33%) | 94 (29%) |
| ICD type | 20 (22%) | 162 (50%) |
| No formal system used | 25 (27%) | 12 (4%) |
| Mixture | 11 (12%) | 53 (16%) |
| How are diagnostic criteria applied? | ||
| “Tightly” applied* | 12 (13%) | 136 (42%) |