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Late Effects of Early Dependency Need Deprivation: The Meal Ticket Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

William E. Farn  and
James N. Sussex
William E. Farn
Affiliation:
From the Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine and Psychiatric Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Houston, Texas; and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida
James N. Sussex
Affiliation:
From the Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine and Psychiatric Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Houston, Texas; and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida
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Summary

A psychiatric condition disabling to persons in the fifth and sixth decades is described. Approximately 51 per cent of nearly 1,000 Social Security Disability applicants sampled presented a wide variety of somatic and psychological complaints, but no severe psychiatric disorder. This group is characterized by inability to continue gainful employment. Commencement of full-time employment before age 16 years (59 per cent) and level of education were the only significant differences between this group and psychotic applicants; another 33 per cent began full-time work before age 20 years. 88.5 per cent of the families of these persons remained intact until after they began work. Apparently, being thrust into the responsibilities of adulthood earlier than their peers contributed to the early disability.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 128 , Issue 3 , March 1976 , pp. 262 - 268
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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