Search

The article focuses on the temperamental characteristics as predicators of behavior disorders in children. The prevention of childhood psychiatric disorders is a matter of increasing concern, resulting in a corresponding rise of interest in those factors likely to predict such disorders. The New York longitudinal study suggests that a wide range of personality characteristics--high and low activity, irregularity, nonadaptability, intensity, persistence and distractibility--may predict behavior disorders. There is evidence that organic brain dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorder and it may be that in a few children organic brain dysfunction has an influence on adverse temperamental characteristics. The results of the study suggests that there is a link between adverse temperament and adverse family attitudes and (possibly) relationships. The clinician should now be aware that a growing body of evidence supports the notion that a child, by virtue of his personality structure, requires handling geared to his individuality if he is to stand the best chance of avoiding the development of a psychiatric disorder.