Showing papers by "Michael Rutter published in 1973"

Temperamental characteristics as predictors of behavior disorders in children

Abstract: Sixty children, three to seven years old, each of whom had at least one mentally ill parent, were assessed for both temperamental differences and behavior disorder. Information was obtained from parents and teachers one year after the initial interviews. Certain temperamental characteristics, especially low habit regularity and low fastidiousness, were predictive of the development of later psychiatric disorder.

Children who have been "in care"--an epidemiological study

Abstract: SUMMARY An epidemiological study of psychiatric disorder among 10 to 11-year-old children in two communities showed a strong association in boys between antisocial disorder and a history of a short period in foster-care or in a Children's Home. This association was much less evident in girls. At the time of study, years after the period “in care”, most of the children were living in large families characterised by parental discord. It is suggested that it is this long-term family disturbance which leads to the antisocial disorder rather than the short-period of care per se. The reason for the sex difference in susceptibility to family discord requires further study. The findings also suggest the need for preventive treatment for families seeking short-term placement “in care”.

Special educational treatment of autistic children: a comparative study–1. design of study and characteristics of units

Abstract: SUMMARY Autistic children attending three different special units were followed up over a 31/2–4 yr period to assess changes in educational, cognitive, linguistic, social and behavioural status. The regimes in the units varied in the amount of structure and the orientation to educational goals. This paper presents detail of the study design, methods used, and results of an objective examination of staff behaviour in the three units. It was possible to demonstrate significant differences in the amount and character of staff interactions with children both between units and between individual staff.

A home-based approach to the treatment of autistic children.

Abstract: A study to evaluate a developmental/behavioral approach to the treatment of autistic children is described in detail, with particular reference to the advantages of using parents as therapists and of basing treatment on the home rather than on the clinic. Emphasis is laid on an adequate assessment of the child and family and on a functional analysis of behavior so that treatment techniques may be adapted to the individual needs of the child and to the particular family circumstances. Treatment is systematically monitored throughout. Attention is paid both to aiding more normal social and linguistic development and to the removal of maladaptive behaviors using a range of behavioral and operant techniques, which are illustrated by 9 examples from the 12 experimental cases assessed by the authors up to date. Highlights of the study are evaluated and discussed.

An evaluation of the proposal for a multi-axial classification of child psychiatric disorders.

Abstract: As part of its programme on the standardization of psychiatric diagnosis, classification, and statistics, the World Health Organization has sponsored studies in different parts of the world to evaluate systematically a multi-axial approach to classification with particular reference to the field of child psychiatry. Preliminary findings from the United Kingdom study with 22 child psychiatrists are reported. The study included two parts: (1) a reliability study using the case histories of 17 patients; and (2) the testing of the classification in routine clinical practice. The ways in which these methods may be used to evaluate a new system of classification are described. It is concluded that a multi-axial system has such important advantages that it should be tried out further both in the field of child psychiatry and in other branches of psychiatry.

Analyzing mothers' speech to young autistic children: a methodological study.

Abstract: The development of a technique for analyzing mothers' speech to young children is described The need for such a measure arose from two linked studies of autistic children, one comparing them with developmental “dysphasic” children and the other evaluating the results of a home-based approach to treatment A 17-category system was developed which could encompass almost all the types of speech shown by mothers of young autistic and normal children and which differentiated between the speech used by different mothers in a way that was meaningfully related to the child's level of language development The categories proved to be easily applicable and to show good inter-observer reliability Tape-recordings made during home observations were found to be the best source of speech samples The problems of time sampling, length and nature of speech sample, and observer effects are discussed