OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders at PCMC using child, parent and clinician reports.
METHODOLOGY: Consecutive referrals of 125 children and adolescents and their parents assessed QoL using the Pediatric Quality of life Inventory (PedsQL) and the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) for clinicians.
RESULTS: Eight diagnostic categories were identified: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, mood disorder, no axis I diagnosis, psychotic disorder, parent-child relational problem, and others. From the children's report , no significant difference was noted in the QoL among diagnostic categories. From the parent's report, children with disruptive behavior disorders had the poorest psychosocial health. From the clinician's report, children with psychotic and mood disorders had the poorest QoL. Specific functional domains were affected per diagnostic category: for children with ADHD, school functioning; for children with disruptive behavior disorder, home, community domains and social and school functioning; for children with mood disorders, home, community and self-harm domain; for children with psychotic disorder, behavior toward others, mood, thinking, and social domains.
CONCLUSION: Multi-rater assessment of QoL of children and adolescents varied. Domains of functioning must be targeted to improve overall QoL.