RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fifteen-minute consultation for a child not attending school: a structured approach to school refusal
JF Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition
JO Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 21
OP 25
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2013-304055
VO 101
IS 1
A1 Felicity Katz
A1 Elizabeth Leith
A1 Eleni Paliokosta
YR 2016
UL http://ep.bmj.com/content/101/1/21.abstract
AB Paediatric consultations in school refusal cases need to explore the presenting medical symptoms and discuss with families any psychological function of the problems that have led to non-attendance. Understanding possible reinforcements of the child's avoidant behaviour, liaising with school and reassurance of the parents are often enough to manage the situation. However, more chronic and persistent refusal often require support from an extended team around the child, often requiring input from mental health professionals. Behavioural strategies are the recommended approach to improve school attendance and to tackle the underlying anxiety or depression, or both, that may be the root cause of their non-attendance.