Parents and teachers reports of DSM-IV psychopathological symptoms in preschool children

Background This study used DSM-IV criteria to analyse reports from teachers and parents and to compare behavioural and emotional symptoms in Spanish preschool children from both urban and rural populations. Method The field survey was conducted in two geographical areas in Catalonia (Spain). A sample of 1104 children (56.67% boys and 43.32% girls) aged 3–6 years participated in this study: 697 were from urban areas and 408 from rural ones. The Early Childhood Inventory—teachers’ and parents’ versions (ECI-4) [Gadow KD, Sprafkin J (1997)—was used as the screening instrument. Results The teachers’ and parents’ reports assigned 32.7 and 46.7%, respectively, to one or more ECI-4 categories. Significant differences between sexes were found in teachers’ reports. The whole disorders were significantly more prevalent in the urban sample than in the rural one (30.6 vs. 20.3%). The most prevalent disorders in both areas were Anxiety Disorders and Behavioural Problems, and the least prevalent were Mood Disorders and Autistic Disorders. Conclusions The findings indicate that there are some differences in the prevalence rates of preschool psychopathological disorders between rural and urban Spanish areas