[Personality disorders in adolescents]

The aim of the study was the investigation of symptoms and origin of the disturbances in personality development of adolescents. The group of 50 patients (22 girls and 28 boys aged from 14 to 20 years) of the Young People's Unit and Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw were examined. The study consists of the psychiatric, psychological and sociological types of investigation. The following methods were used in the study: the standard methods of the clinical investigation, Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale, R. B. Cattell, M. Choynowski and M. Nowakowska 's 16 PF; A. Roe and M. Siegelman 's "My Father" and "My Mother" questionnaires; E. S. Schaefer and R. Q. Bell's Parental Attitude Research Instrument and E. Kobia łka's Family Environmental Questionnaire. The control group was formed in the method of pairs and was investigated in the same way as patients. After the detailed analysis of the data, the final conclusions were formed. They are as follows: In the clinical picture of disturbances of the development of patients personality, the conduct disorders prevailed. The suicidal and parasuicidal behaviour occurred in 1/3 of the patients. Also the depressive and other neurotic symptoms took place. The intelligence level was average and dull normal. The following personality features were established: emotional instability, guilt proness , low self- sentiment , high ergic tension (both sexes); protension ( suspection jealous ), shrewdness (girls) and threat sensitive (boys). Patients attitudes toward both parents were disturbed and unfavourable for normal personality development. The declared mothers attitudes toward patients were also unfavourable for development of mature personality. The general family environment (also living standard) was significantly worse in the criterion group. It should be stressed in conclusion, that the results of the study showed among others that the disturbed family hinder the development of adjustment mechanisms, mainly of the adjustment to the small group, which are essential for the normal personality functioning.