Children are still seen but not heard

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7364.599/a

BMJ 2002;325:599 ( 14 September )

Letters

Children are still seen but not heard

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Kroenke and Gask and Underwood describe in some detail the multiplicity of psychological presentations in patients. ¹ ² No mention is made, however, of the many children seen in generalpractice and by paediatricians who have primarily mental healthproblems, psychological factors associated with their physicalillness (such as diabetes management), or medically unexplainedsymptoms (such as recurrent abdominal pain). The best estimateof the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in young people inthe United Kingdom is the Office for National Statistics figureof 10% of all children.³ This figure increases appreciablyin inner cities and when chronic ill health, and particularlyneurological disorders, are present. But only one in five of theseattend mental health services for children and adolescents. Someevidence exists that family doctors can provide effective treatmentfor this group.⁴