Factors Influencing Selective Mutism

A Psychometric Questionnaire Study With a Control Group Design of Children and Young People With Selective Mutism, as Well as on Adults Who Suffered Selective Mutism Earlier in Life

The study's goal is to check and verify basic assumptions of a new selective mutism developmental model from Melfsen and Walitza through standardized and routinely used patient questionnaires. The primary emphasis is the question of a connection between selective mutism and high sensitivity, dissociation, emotional regulation, family structure, social anxiety and self-esteem.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children and young people from 8-18 years of age who fulfill the international classification of diseases tenth edition (ICD-10) for selective mutism
• Adults who suffered selective mutism when they were children or adolescents
• All study participants or their legal representative have given written permission for their experiences to be documented in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Temporary mutism, e.g. from emotional disturbances or separation anxiety (F93.0), or depression
• Profound developmental disturbances (F84.2) like early childhood autism (F84.0), atypical autism (F84.1), Rett Syndrome (F84.2), alternative disintegrative childhood disturbances (F84.3), hyperactivity disturbance with decrease of intelligence and movement stereotypes (F84.5), or Asperger's Syndrome.
• Schizophrenia (F20)
• Profound mental retardation
• Delineated development disturbances of speech and language (F80)
• Organic brain disease with loss of language or disturbance of speech development