Assessment of mental disorders in preschoolers: The multiaxial profiles of diagnostic classification 0-3

A group of 291 preschoolers consecutively enrolled at the Early Childhood Mental Health Service of IRCSS Stella Maris (Italy) were assessed using the Diagnostic Classification Zero to Three (DC:0-3; ZERO TO THREE, 1994). All active variables were extracted from its five axes, and a multiple correspondence analysis was performed. This analysis evidenced four multiaxial clinical profiles: (a) Multisystem developmental disorders (Axis I) were correlated with the underinvolved quality of relationship (Axis II), medical conditions (Axis III), and a low level of emotional functioning (Axis V); (b) regulatory disorders (Axis I) were correlated with maladaptive or angry/hostile relationship (Axis II), medical conditions (Axis III), and an immature level of emotional functioning (Axis V); (c) affective disorders (Axis I) were correlated with anxious/tense relationship (Axis II), stress factors (Axis IV), and emotional functioning vulnerable to stress (Axis V); and (d) adjustment, feeding, and sleeping disorders (Axis I) were correlated with mild relationship disorders (Axis II) and important impact of stress factors (Axis IV). These findings support DC:0-3 as a valid tool to detect multiaxial profiles that could be useful to plan comprehensive treatments of the disorders.