A METHOD OF INTEGRATING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION

Abstract

By taking advantage of rapport established in the physical examination of children, an interview was developed to follow that procedure, which incorporated phases of the psychiatric study that dealt with the child's verbal response to his own body. This interview was elaborated in a series of twenty children to include four groups of responses: (1) to anatomic variations; (2) height, weight, strength and appearance; (3) body growth and maturity; (4) knowledge of sex difference, and sex activity. The group studied included fourteen boys and six girls ages ranging from five to fifteen years, intelligence ranging from dull to very superior, referred to the Institute because of various educational and generally mild "behavior problems." The findings were summarized in a series of tables, studied in relation to other data made available by social investigation, family history, intelligence, educational tests, and physical findings; and related to other clinical cases and contributions from the literature. Alth...