PubMed1968
During our work on systematic registration of psychophysically handicapped children in Split and the assessment of the needs for their rehabilitation and readaptation, the most important finding was maladjustment with a remarkably high grade of mental disorder. An analysis of the information from a pediatro-psychiatric clinic has shown that this is due to inadequate approach to the child when in the course of his physical rehabilitation the social moment is neglected and consequently the primary somatic disorder--often an unsignificant psychomotoric handicap or psychic disorder--is followed by severe intellectual, characteral and psychical aberration. A series of necessary measures and procedures in the work with such children are proposed, particularly in view of the necessity of adopting an individual plan of rehabilitation procedures, regardless where the child is accommodated. The advantages of a treatment in "free conditions", i.e. in the family, over the residence or institution system are stressed, though the first solution is usually preferred because of organizational, material and other conditions.