Project Summary

Thomas G. O'Connor, Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2001) of Institute of Psychiatry, will study the long-term impact of early childhood deprivation, as existing models concerning the long-term effects of early deprivation are mixed (some say there are no limits on a child's recovery and others predict that permanent damage, regardless of subsequent environment, is inevitable).  Dr. O'Connor will examine the prevalence and meaning of very severe social impairments following early deprivation.  The study, an extension of an on-going, longitudinal study, will assess a subset of children from the larger study.  The children were from Romania and were adopted into the UK.  He will explore the continuity of severe impairments, the association between severe impairments and accepted clinical syndromes, and what accounts for continuing deficits and recovery.

Program Area: PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS\Autism

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