Evaluation of Disability Health Committee Reports of Patients Applying to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of a University Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to investigate the reasons for admission, sociodemographic background, psychiatric diagnoses, additional physical diseases and special needs levels of children and adolescents who applied to Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine disability health committee for a special needs report in order to expand the literature on individuals with special needs. Methods: Between 1st August 2021 and 31st August 2022, the data of 616 patients aged 0-18 years who applied for a special needs report to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was retrospectively examined. Results: The mean age of the group was 7.74±3.64 years, with most cases being between 7-12 years of age and male. The most common diagnosis was "delayed milestone in childhood (ICD R 62.0)" in 45.3% (n=279). The most commonly reported special needs level was "Requires Special Needs" in 33.5% (n=206), and the most common reason for application was to renew the report, in 40.4% (n=249). In this cohort, 34.6% had an additional medical disease, most commonly genetic diseases, including Down, Fragile X, and Angelman syndromes. Conclusion: Special needs report evaluation in children and adolescents is commonly encountered in a Psychiatry outpatient clinic. It is important that both patients and their families can benefit from their existing rights and that patients with special educational needs can be identified as early as possible to begin educational interventions promptly. Thus, child psychiatrists should be informed of the demographics and clinical presentation in this patient group.