A follow-up study of 29 borderline psychotic children 5 to 20 years after discharge.

Twenty-nine children who during 1956 through 1970 were hospitalized for borderline psychosis were followed up in 1975. Twelve of them had received inpatient psychiatric treatment for 1-3 years. Seventeen were sent home for local, nonspecific help. At follow-up 67% of the treated group were no longer considered psychotic, compared with 70% of the untreated group. The two groups differ somewhat in a series of parameters, the treated group showing more severe psychopathological symptoms. The differences do not reach significant levels. No useful prognostic criteria were obtained from the study. The prognosis seems to be much better than for other types of psychosis in children.