Research on mental retardation in Norway 1970-1980: a review

The present paper reviews most of the research on mental retardation in Norway, published in 1970-1980. An important part of this work is represented by Hole's reports of experimental phenylketonuria (PKU) in the rat and studies on peptides and protein-associated peptide complexes in mental disturbances, including experimental studies of effects on brain function and behavior of a peptide fraction (factor 3 b 2). Among studies on diseases with mental retardation, are determinations of arylsulphatase A in cultured amniotic fluid cells and in amniotic fluid as measures of prenatal diagnosis of metachromatic leukodystrophy, reports on screening disorders of tyrosine metabolism and the occurrence of positive dye test in blind children and patients with physical and mental handicaps. Further, studies on the effects of antiepileptics on immunoglobulins are reported. In the fields of social medicine, psychology and psychiatry, only few studies have been published in international journals. Brief reports on Norwegian articles comprise studies on work and disability, social and psychological handicaps in special school pupils, psychosis in mental retardation, and some efforts to design psychological treatment programs for the mentally retarded. The majority of research on mental retardation or with relevance to this field in Norway, has either been supported by the Norwegian Council for Research on Mental Retardation, or the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities. Based on annual reports of these councils, and correspondence to centers involved in such research, we have collected reports published in the period 1970 to 1980. We have also received unpublished reports, but have chosen not to include most of them in this review, because of the difficulties for the readers to obtain these reports. The institutional and noninstitutional services for the mentally retarded in Norway have no formal connection with university or other research institutes. Nevertheless, most of the research papers have been submitted from such institutes. Most of the reports traced are in the fields of basic neurobiology, medicine, and psychology, and will be dealt with under these headings.