BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGIC PROBLEMS OF YOUNG DIABETIC PATIENTS

Abstract

IT IS the purpose of this paper to describe the behavior and the psychologic problems of a group of diabetic patients who have been observed from childhood through adolescence and early adulthood. All these patients were under treatment for from ten to twenty years. It is well known that normal children exhibit temporary alterations in behavior in the transition from childhood and adolescence to adult life. However, these alterations are more pronounced in diabetic children because of the abnormal regimentation to which they are subjected and because of certain psychic and physical factors associated with their condition. MATERIAL Forty-three patients were studied, 22 females and 21 males (table 1). Thirtyfour of these patients attended the outpatient department at the Mount Sinai Hospital, and 9 were private patients. The former were treated in the pediatric clinic until they reached the age of 14, when they were transferred to the clinic for