IngentaConnect Stress barometer at diagnoses in children with school non-attenda...

Authors: KANO, KENICHI; ARISAKA, OSAMU¹

Source: Pediatrics International, Volume 48, Number 3, June 2006 , pp. 265-267(3)

Abstract:

Background:

School non-attendance is a major social problem in Japan. Many children stop attending school for a variety of reasons. The authors previously reported stress barometer values for healthy Japanese children. In this study, the authors examined the stress barometer values of children with school non-attendance. Methods:

The authors measured stress barometer values, that is, urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) and 17-ketosteroid sulfates (17-KS-S) in 65 children (40 girls and 25 boys; 7–15 years of age) with school non-attendance, except for pervasive developmental disorder and mental retardation, who attended the outpatient department of Dokkyo University School of Medicine Hospital, Tochigi, Japan, during the past 4 years. Results:

A total of 24 (36.9%) of the 65 children had urinary 17-OHCS values above 2SD, and 14 (21.5%) had urinary 17-OHCS below 2SD. In total, 10 (15.4%) children had urinary 17-KS-S values above 2SD, and four (6.2%) had urinary 17-KS-S below 2SD. Five (7.7%) children had urinary 17-KS-S/17-OHCS values above 2SD, and 10 (15.4%) had urinary 17-KS-S/17-OHCS below 2SD. Conclusion:

The stress barometer values appear to be clinically useful for evaluating objectively whether children with school non-attendance have emotional stress.

Keywords: being bullied; depressive disorders; orthostatic dysregulation; school non-attendance; stress barometer

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2006.02201.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$50.16 plus tax Refund Policy

Stress barometer at diagnoses in children with school non-attendance