The Biopsychosocial Usage of Draw your Family Test in Children in Family Medicine

INTRODUCTION: In family medicine practices, children are generally evaluated biologically, but their psychosocial evaluation is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the family pictures drawn by children between the ages of 4 and 12, in a biopsychosocial approach within the framework of family medicine.
METHODS: Parents and their children who applied to the family physician between the ages of 4 and 12 between February 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, were included in the study. In the outpatient setting, a one-time Draw your family test (DYFT) was applied to the children and the drawn pictures were evaluated using the Koppitz’s Emotional Indicators Scale (EIS). Parents of the same children were asked to complete the Conners’ Parental Rating Scale (PRS).
RESULTS: A total of 212 children were included in the study. As a result of the DYFT, 85 (40.1%) children may have developmental delay, lack of self-confidence, communication disorder, impulse control disorder, shyness, introversion, and socialization problems were obtained. In the Conners’ PRS applied to parents, data indicated that 147 (69.3%) children may have hyperactivity disorder, behavioral disorder, attention deficit disorder, anxiety disorder, and psychosomatic disorder. At the end of the study, it was observed that 41 (19.3%) children scored high on both the Koppitz’s EIS and the Conners’ PRS.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In conclusion, starting with drawing tests after a short training of family physicians will increase their communication with children and enable them to evaluate psychosocially.