[Behavior disorders in children with mental retardation (data of an epidemiologic study)]

An epidemiological examination of mentally retarded children aged 8-14 years revealed behavioural deviations hindering the patients' adaptation in 31.8%. Behavioural disorders were due to the psychopathy-like syndrome of organic genesis in one group of patients and psychogenic pathological formation of the personality in another. Apart from this, hyperdynamic syndrome (other than psychopathy-like) and neurosis-like disturbances were also attended by behavioural disorders. Among children who had been left without parents from early childhood behavioural difficulties were observed two times more frequently than among children brought up in families, including the so-called difficult families. A total of 66% of mentally-retarded children were either once or repeatedly hospitalized in psychiatric institutions, mainly, in connection with an insufficient correction of behavioural deviations at auxiliary and boarding schools.