A study of the heights and weights of different groups of disturbed children

Mean centile heights and weights of 346 children referred to a child psychiatric clinic were recorded and compared with the psychiatric diagnoses of the children. Neurotic boys were found to have significantly greater mean centile heights than boys with (a) conduct disorders and (b) specific developmental disorders. No significant difference was found in the girls. The difference in boys' heights was not associated with any significant difference in social class, family size, or position in the family. No significant weight differences were found. The results are discussed, and it is concluded that the relationship between physical growth and psychiatric disorder in children merits further investigation.