Minimal brain dysfunction: a hydraulic parfait model.

Abstract

A Venn diagram shows the overlap of MBD, behavior disorders, and learning disorders. A hydraulic parfait model illustrates a concept of symptom production by additive accumulation of pathology from various etiologies. This implies a psychophysiologic disorder. It also implies a multidimensional spectrum of etiologies which could be important for treatment plans in individual cases. A similar hydraulic parfait illustrates a concept of diagnosis-triggering by cumulative pressure from various symptoms. Diagnosticians form a spectrum of "trigger pulls", from "hair trigger" to "on safety." A useful research effort might be to find a convenient means of developing etiological profiles for individual patients, perhaps by correlation with symptom spectra.