ABSTRACT
Conclusion:
Compared to other childhood-onset psychiatric disorders, a limited number of studies have been conducted on SM in children in our country. The data obtained from this study can contribute to our better understanding of SM, early diagnosis of SM and to guide future health policies.
Results:
50.9% (n=26) of the SM patients were female and 49.1% (n=25) were male. The mean age of the cases was 6.5 years (minimum: 4 years, maximum: 12 years) and 47.1% (n=24) of the cases were first grade in primary school. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in terms of school status, background story, family history, non-speaking environments, attendance at control examination and age (p>0.05). It was found that 76.5% of the cases (n=39) had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder and the most common psychiatric comorbidity was social phobia. It was found that 58.6% (n=17) of the cases used fluoxetine and 10.3% (n=3) were treated with behavioral intervention methods.
Materials and Methods:
The medical records of 51 children with SM who follow-up in the children’s hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Sociodemographic and clinical findings like children’s and parent’s age, education level, family characteristics, medical history, clinical characteristics, treatment methods and follow-up processes were assessed.
Objectives:
There are limited data regarding the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children with selective mutism (SM) in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children with SM followed in a children’s hospital.
Keywords:
Anxiety disorders, comorbidity, selective mutism, sociodemographic feature
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