Successful adjustment to society by adults with phenylketonuria.

The study shows that most individuals between 16 and 25 years of age with PKU appear to function in a productive manner in society. Although they have not become professional men and women, they can acquire jobs of a skilled or semiskilled nature and perform them satisfactorily. The majority seemed content with their jobs and happy with the way their lives were progressing, although only 23% were financially independent. Of the patients interviewed, the majority had made friendships and appeared to keep them without much trouble. The majority of the patients would not tell their friends that they had PKU. The reason for this was that they felt uncomfortable acknowledging that they had this disorder.