Developmental pathways of mental health problems from childhood through adolescence

The aim of the present project is to examine developmental pathways of mental health problems among children included in the Bergen Child Study (BCS) (www.uib.no/bib). In the first step, all children attending 2. to 4. grade in the Bergen and Sund munici palities in Norway in 2002 (n=9652) were included in the first wave of the study. All parents and teachers were asked to fill in a questionnaire, and 97 % of the teachers and 74% of the parents participated. Parents of children scoring above cut-off on pr e-determined criteria (screen-positives) and a random sample of screen negatives participated in a structured psychiatric interview (DAWBA). 1080 parents were interviewed, with an attrition rate from Step 1 of about 50%. 139 fulfilled the criteria of a di agnosis. 122 of these children and a random sample of children without a diagnosis (299) were invited into a case-control study in Step 3. 329 parents and children were assessed according to a semi-structured clinical interview (KiddieSads-PL). The childr en were also assessed on a range of cognitive and motor tests, they gave a self evaluation of their own competence and went through a short physical evaluation. We apply for support to perform follow-up studies of the BCS children. The main follow-up s tudy will include the same population as included in Step 1, i.e. all children attending 5. to 7. grade in 2005/2006 (Wawe 2). This will make it possible to study developmental pathways of mental health problems in a whole population of children, and more specific problems related to the psychological impact of puberty. Furthermore, it will give the oportunity to detect new problems associated with puberty. A second group of studies will include selected, well characterised groups of children: 1) children with an autism spectrum disorder; 2) children with behavioural problems; and 3) children with chronic illness