Minimal Brain Dysfunction in Children: Failure to Find Evidence for a Behavioral Syndrome

In order to examine covariation among some of the behavioral deviations included in Clements' (1966) monograph on “minimal brain dysfunction syndrome,” 16 measures and ratings were obtained for a sample of 89 children attending a child development clinic. The measures included most of the variables mentioned among the 10 most frequently hypothesized symptoms of the disorder. Few instances of significant relationships were found, especially when age and IQ were statistically controlled. The findings were discussed in relation to criteria needed to establish a syndrome, and suggestions for future research were made.