Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:532-538
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
The significance of childhood neurosis for adult mental health: a follow-up study
S Waldron Jr
The author compared the mental health of 42 young adults who had suffered
from a neurosis in childhood with that of 20 control subjects. Various
aspects of functioning were clinically assessed using the Current and Past
Psychopathology Scales and the Health-Sickness Rating Scale. More than 75%
of the former patients were at least mildly ill at follow-up, compared with
only 15% of the control group. Intergroup differences in diagnoses and
symptoms are described. The findings establish the fact that neurotic
children require much more effective treatment than they have traditionally
received in order to attain a good prognosis for adult mental health.
