Minimal brain dysfunction in childhood: outcome in late adolescence and early adult years

Seventy-three patients, diagnosed in childhood as having minimal brain dysfunction syndrome and further classified as either developmental lag (38%) or organic brain syndrome (62%), were followed into late adolescence and early adult life. At follow-up 7% were free of psychiatric disorder, 80% had various types of personality disorder, and 14% were borderline psychotic. Global outcome was rated as satisfactory in 20%, unsatisfactory in 80%. Associated with an unsatisfactory outcome were these initial findings: low normal or borderline intelligence, multiplicity of behavioral and neuropsychological findings, learning disabilities, special class placement, and initial classification of organic brain syndrome. Initial differentiation between developmental lag and organic brain syndrome foreshadowed different psychopathological features having significant polarities and little overlap, as well as different global outcome.