A new study that indicates 15 per cent of pre-schoolers have atypically high depression and anxiety is a wake-up call to teachers and parents, two psychologists said Friday.

The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was based on at-home interviews, over six years, with a representative sample of 1,759 mothers of Quebec-born children.

It asked whether their children, followed yearly from five to 50 months, appeared nervous, high strung or tense, fearful or anxious, worried, not as happy as other children or had difficulty having fun.

The main finding is 14.7 per cent showed a high level of depression and anxiety, which increased sharply with age compared to other groups that had shown fewer signs.

Conducted by a team from Montreal, Laval, McGill, and other schools, the study is said to be the first to examine the development of depressive and anxiety symptoms from 18 months to school entry at age five.

These results are true for both sexes, the study found.

Noted lead author Sylvana Cote, a Universite de Montreal professor of social and preventive medicine, said: "Difficult temperament at five months was the most important predictor of depression and anxiety in the children."

Another key finding is the mother's lifetime depression was the second most important predictor of high depression and anxiety behaviours in children.

Genetic factors were not examined in the study.

The report also confirmed atypical depression and anxiety symptoms can be identified during infancy for prevention interventions.

Montreal psychologist Steven Schachter, who specializes in anxiety disorders, says the findings are consistent with his clinical experience. "The big areas to look at are difficulties to sleep, changes in appetite or concentration, lack of interest in things they used to find pleasurable, suddenly aggressive behaviour."

A teacher should inform a parent, who might have an explanation for these changes, he said.

As to what lies behind childhood anxiety, Montreal psychologist Abe Worenklein noted many pre-schoolers are "over-programmed."

"They're being put under a tremendous amount of pressure to achieve certain milestones at earlier and earlier ages."

Busy parents also are spending less time with their children and there is more family conflict, Worenklein said.