The association of psycho-neurosis with mental deficiency / by Charles S. Myers.

  • Charles Samuel Myers
Date:
[1923?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The association of psycho-neurosis with mental deficiency / by Charles S. Myers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/12 (page 257)
    fjii—ii'i'n- THE ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHO-NEUROSIS WITH MENTAL DEFICIENCY BY CHARLES S. MYERS In this paper I wish to present an account of two school children which have come under my observation during the past five years, in which mental defect was associated with psycho-neurotic symptoms. For much of the information which I am able to give I have been dependent on, and wish to express my gratitude to, Miss Peyton, the Head Mistress of the School for Mental Defectives in which the boys were being educated, and Miss L. G. Fildes, who carried out the tests described in the paper. The first case, A.B., was admitted to the School in January, 1915, then aged 8 years 2 months. When tested four years later, in May, 1919, by the Stanford-Binet tests, his intelligence quotient proved to be 52, his mental age being 6 years 6 months; i.e., there was a retardation of about six years. He had an apparently normal brother at work. A fatal accident befell his father, a heavy drinker, two months before the boy’s birth. His mother, a cook in service, stated that until two years old he was boarded out with an aunt, that he began to talk normally while he was with his aunt, but that afterwards he was transferred to another woman’s care, where he “ lost his speech ” after being shut up in a dark cupboard. When admitted to the School for Mental Defectives, his speech was very imperfect; and although he had previously attended school he could do no school work. He left this School shortly after I saw him, by which time his speech had improved enor¬ mously and he had learnt to carry out some coarse handwork. He could also read and write the alphabet and many small words. His behaviour and speech were marked by complete absence of continuous attention. He was always restless and anxious to do something, but was perpetually distracted by any passing occurrence. Through such inattention he was wholly incapable of learning at school, except under individual instruction. In his