Association of maternal and fetal factors with development of mental deficiency

Pasamanick B, Lilienfeld AM, Lilienfeld AM, Hsieh CC, Lan SJ., Adami HO, Trichopoulos D.

1955

USA

This is a study of 1,107 retarded children born in Baltimore from 1935 to 1952 whose IQ was under 80. Data about the perinatal period were obtained from the birth register of the Baltimore City Health Department. A control group was established. The main conclusion was that the non-mechanical complications such as bleeding during pregnancy and toxemia appear to be more important than the mechanical factors.

We mention this study because of its historical interest even though mental deficiency is not in itself a clinical entity but rather a symptom present in a large number of diseases of varying etiology.