TEMPERAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS IN INFANCY AND THE LATER DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS

Retrospective and prospective studies of personality development each have their own strength and weaknesses (1, 3). However, as parental recall of the characteristics of their children when younger is so inaccurate (10), certain developmental questions require longitudinal study in order to avoid the biases inherent in the retrospective method (6).

ATYPICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

Patients with hyperthyroidism usually present with symptoms of hypermetabolism with or without goitre and/or eye signs. Occasionally, however, the chief complaints are not immediately suggestive of hyperthyroidism. Patients with hyperthyroidism are described who presented with such atypical manifestations as periodic muscular paralysis, myasthenia, myopathy, encephalopathy, psychosis, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, heart failure without underlying heart disease, skeletal demineralization, pretibial myxedema, unilateral eye signs, and pitting edema of the ankles.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMATOLOGY FOR SOCIAL ADAPTATION

The social adjustment of individuals is studied from different viewpoints by psychiatrists and sociologists. The psychiatrist is concerned with the malfunctioning personality (and with normal function toward which patients must be assisted); the sociologist is concerned with the functioning social system. The basic reference of both disciplines is to the individual and the individual's adaptation in his social group.