Learning disabilities as a childhood manifestation of severe psychopathology.

The severity and nature of psychopathology in a group of learning disabled children was investigated. Compared to children in a normal control group, those in the learning disabled group manifested a significant degree of emotional maladjustment. They also exhibited disturbances in areas of ego functioning generally thought to be impaired in those with borderline personality organization. No linear relationship was found between severity of pathology and degree of underachievement.