The Components of “Affectionless Psychopathy” in Institutionalized Children

SUMMARY Classical “affectionless psychopathy” of institutionalization is no longer a commonly found syndrome in residential care. The individual clinical features which make up the syndrome, however, are each described as occurring very commonly. A psychiatric study of a group of children in long stay residential care suggests that the main features of the syndrome have a different aetiology. Antisocial behaviour is found to relate to aspects in the child's family, and relationship difficulties to an early admission to care. The implications of these findings are discussed.