title: An aetiological study of 1,000 patients with an I.Q. assessment below 51.
abstract: This paper examines the actiological basis of the severer grades of mental retardation in 1,000 individuals attending an outpatient clinic. It was found it was possible to make a suggested diagnosis in 78% of cases. These fell into broad aetiological groups: genetically determined, 25%: early prenatal abomalies, 18%: perinatal damage, 17% prenatal and postnatal infections, 15%; cultural disintegration, 3%. The changing pattern of incidence and the possibilities of prevention are discussed for each group.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002649:Child Abuse; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000517:prevention & control; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000151:congenital