THE CURRENT SITUATION IN REGARD TO NON-ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF SCHOOL REFUSAL IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT CLINIC OF DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AT NARA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

A study on prognostic factors of non-attendance, especially school refusal in the strict sense was conducted. 114 out-patients (male 63, female 51) visiting the Child and Adolescent Clinic of the Department of Psychiatry at Nara Medical University were studied. The results were : (1) The patients consisted of 17 students of elementary school (14.9%), 46 of junior high school (40.4%) and 51 of high school (44.7%). (2) School refusal in the strict sense was 51.8%. In the rest, non-attendance at school was based on mental disorders including schizophrenia (14.9%), depression (6.1%), and anthropophobia (6.1%). (3) As to onset of school refusal, many cases began in September, April and May. Premorbid personality tended to be introverted, perfectionisitc, sensitive and obstinate. Psychiatric hereditary factors were found in 24.5% of all cases, and antipsychotics were administered to 45.8% of all cases. (4) In regard to the differences between the good prognostic group and poor prognostic group, grade, trigger and the number of times of consultation were significant