Facteurs de risque psychosociaux et troubles psychiatriques des jeunes pris en charge par l’aide sociale à l’enfance et ayant recours à des soins hospitaliers

Background

Children and adolescents involved with foster care are a population at high risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Here, we aimed to assess in children and adolescents admitted in a University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry whether being involved with foster care would change psychopathology and risk factors they face.

Method

We conducted a case-control study in a sample of 103 inpatients aged 6 to 18 years (52 supported by foster care; 51 not supported). Assessment included family and medical histories, psychopathology using the MINI neuropsychiatric interviews (Kid and parents) for axis 1 diagnoses and the diagnostic interview for borderline for axis 2 diagnoses. We also scored the following scales: Global Assessment Functioning, Eysenck Impulsivity and Empathy Scale, Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory, Harvey Affective Liability Scale.

Results

We found more psychosocial life events, both past and recent (occurring less than 2 years) in inpatients involved with foster care (family conflicts, single parent, repeated breaks in places of life, academic failures). We also found more family history of antisocial personality disorder, alcoholism and other drug abuses in first-degree relatives. Regarding axis 1 psychopathologies, we found significantly more conduct disorders, specific developmental disorders and learning difficulties among youths supported by foster care. Finally, we found several prevalent traits of the borderline personality and higher scores of impulsivity, emotional liability and hostility. However, we did not find significant difference for empathy score between the two groups. The results emphasize a condition of cumulative risk factors in the inpatients population involved with foster care.

Conclusion

The severity and prevalence of psychiatric disorders among youths involved with foster care and requiring psychiatric inpatient stay show the impact of interactions with the environment on the development of psychopathology in children and, for some of them, the inadequacy of the means of prevention.