[Are psycho-organically disordered children inconspicuous as adults? A follow-up study of 125 probands]

ADD is very well known in english speaking countries (DSM III 26-29). At first american authors have demonstrated that psycho-organic disturbances do not disappear in all cases of adulthood. Attention deficit disorders, lack of concentration, weak short time memory, word finding difficulties, visuo-motor function deficiency, lability of mood, impulsivity, lack of self-control will often be found in adults. A defective ego-function seems to be the central disorder. These patients often grow up to pathologic personalities with a propensity to neurosis, addiction, various types of psychosis, namely to schizophrenia. With consideration to the heterogeneity of ADD, MDD hyperkinetic syndrome, psycho-organic syndrome etc. accurate follow-up studies are necessary for a better delineation on this nosological concept. Therefore we have investigated the development of 78 psycho-organic patients of our out-patient department. The first examination was made at the age of 10 years and the second ten years later. We obtained the following results: 1/3 of all patients were free of mental symptoms at the main age of 23 years. 1/2 presented slight symptoms in the cognitive field and/or in the emotional life, but vocational training and social adjustment were not impaired. 1/6 of the patients showed no improvement. They had remained in their family, still need care and help and were unable to accomplish professional training. These findings were compared with those of two groups of healthy persons (20 recruits of the swiss army and 27 female students of a nursing school). The differences were statistically significant in several dimensions.