title: Specificity and heterogeneity in children's responses to profound institutional privation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sequelae of profound early privation are varied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To delineate the behavioural patterns that are specifically associated with institutional privation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 165 children adopted from Romania before the age of 42 months were compared at 4 years and 6 years with 52 non-deprived UK children adopted in infancy. Dysfunction was assessed for seven domains of functioning. The groups were compared on which, and how many, domains were impaired.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attachment problems, inattention/overactivity, quasi-autistic features and cognitive impairment were associated with institutional privation, but emotional difficulties, poor peer relationships and conduct problems were not. Nevertheless, one-fifth of children who spent the longest time in institutions showed normal functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attachment disorder behaviours, inattention/overactivity and quasi-autistic behaviour constitute institutional privation patterns.
authors.affiliation: Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK. j.wickham@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kreppner
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D002674:Child, Institutionalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012383:Romania / Q000208:ethnology; D006113:United Kingdom