[Is children's psychological health worse now than before?].
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Child Psychiatry↗
Biomedical subjects
H Wergeland
Publications and source records attributed to H Wergeland.
A follow-up study of 29 borderline psychotic children 5 to 20 years after discharge.
Twenty-nine children who during 1956 through 1970 were hospitalized for borderline psychosis were followed up in 1975. Twelve of them had received inpatient psychiatric treatment for 1-3 years. Seventeen were sent home for local, nonspecific help. At follow-up 67% of the treated group were no longer considered psychotic, compared with 70% of the untreated group. The two groups differ somewhat in a series of parameters, the treated group showing more severe psychopathological symptoms. The differences do not reach significant levels. No useful prognostic criteria were obtained from the study. The prognosis seems to be much better than for other types of psychosis in children.
Adolescent↗
Elective mutism.
Eleven children who had received a diagnosis of elective mutism upon admission to the children's psychiatric clinic, were followed up 8--18 years later. The average age upon admission was 9 1/2 years, and at the time of follow-up, 23 years. Nine of the children came from homes with a strong familial shyness and reservation, and eight lived in social isolation. Six were particularly overprotected. Six came from discordant family constellations. All were diagnosed neurotic, eight specified as compulsion-neurosis. All were of normal intelligence. Six children received extensive individual psychotherapy (four upon admission to the clinic, two by way of out-patient treatment). We were unable to offer similar treatment to the remaining five. During the course of treatment three of the admitted patients improved, the fourth and the two ambulatory patients remained unchanged after up to 4 years of therapy. The follow-up study showed the three unchanged patients and the five who had received treatment, now were cured of the symptom; improvement took place in connection with a change of environment. The five who had not received treatment were better adjusted than those who had been separated from home for several years, at a vulnerable age. The importance of early prophylactic intervention is emphasized.
Adult↗