The Seventh Jack Tizard Memorial Lecture. Aspects of adoption

Adoption has a long history and there has been a change in traditional assumptions and practice. It is now seen as a form of child care, one of a spectrum of resources for children in need. Adopted children generally show a good outcome but are over-represented in clinical populations. This trend is likely to continue as older children with histories of severe deprivation, neglect, abuse and institutionalization are placed. New light has been thrown on "telling" in adoption by developmental studies. Adoption disruption increases with age and other factors at placement, requiring further research into its origins and management.