DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2016.v04i09.014

Pages: 772-777

Behavioral interventions are recommended as treatments for children with psychiatric disorders. Recent policies relating to child mental health in many countries appear to focus more on policing and assessing the numbers of children affected, and supporting the needs of child in this era. Relatively little is known about the management effectiveness and functional outcomes of child rehabilitation. This study was conducted to gain knowledge of changes of functioning and disability over time at rehabilitation services provided to children with psychiatric elements and compare functional gains by age and diagnosis. A prospective multicenter cohort design was used. Children presented at rehabilitation center and received management during the period from December 2010 to July 2016 were enrolled. Statistical analyses were used to compare functional gains across impairment groups and to examine the relationship between timing of intervention and functional gains. A total of 227 patients (171 males and 56 females) were enrolled in the current study. Their mean age was 8.66 ± 2.81 years (Range, 1 to 17 years).The majority 150 (66.1%) were from age group 6 to 10 years. The pattern of psychiatric disorder were variable. Chi square revealed significant differences in functional gains among patients with Asperger’s syndrome, Learning disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), and Autism as p values were p=0.000, p=0.009, p=0.01, and p=0.03 respectively. Children less than 11 years of age had made significantly larger gains in all areas of function (p=000). The value of this study’s analyses on educational experiences and outcomes of children with special educational needs. The majority of children receiving rehabilitation improve in the area of self-care, mobility, and cognition.