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A survey carried out in France at the beginning of 1984 concerning development of children born of mothers treated with bromocriptine (BC) during part or all of the pregnancy showed the absence of any adverse effects of BC in 64 children born from 53 mothers. In 60 cases, BC was prescribed (2.5–7.5 mg/day) for hyperprolactinemia; 23 mothers were treated with BC for 4 weeks or less, and 23 others for 30 weeks or more. After a follow-up of between 6 months and 9 years, all children are normal. Psychological development in the 23 children born to mothers treated with BC during more than 30 weeks of pregnancy actually appears more precocious, with excellent scholastic performance in the oldest.

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Aim  Individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) are reported to have mental retardation* but to our knowledge no detailed study on the subject has ever been published. The present study assessed and documented cognitive and adaptive behaviour among Arab Bedouin children with CIPA. Methods  Twenty‐three Arab Bedouin children (12 females, 11 males) with CIPA aged between 3 and 17 years (mean 9y 7mo, SD 4y 2mo) were assessed. They were compared with 19 healthy siblings of the affected children aged between 5 and 13 years (mean 8y 11mo, SD 2y 10m). All of the children in the comparison group, but only half of the CIPA group, were attending school. The children were evaluated using a standardized, non‐verbal intelligence test, the Leiter International Performance Scale – Revised, and an adaptive behaviour questionnaire, the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, 2nd edition. Results  Based on scores on the intelligence test and the adaptive behaviour scale, children with CIPA functioned in the mental retardation range (mean IQ scores: CIPA group 53.8, comparison group 83.32 [p<0.001]; adaptive behaviour: CIPA group 68.1, comparison group 104.88 [p<0.001]). IQ was significantly higher among the children with CIPA aged up to 7 years 11 months than among the older children 73.83 vs 45.21 (p<0.001). Interpretation  As a group, the younger children with CIPA may be functioning above the mental retardation range. We propose that early intervention addressing these children’s needs and developing an appropriate educational system, might improve their outcome.

Emotional and behavior problems in Bedouin elementary schoolchildren were investigated. Teachers completed the Teachers' Report Form of the Child Behavior Checklist on 953 children: 461 children who had previously been rated by teachers as having referral level behavioral and/or learning problems and 492 children rated as non-problematic by their teachers. There were significant differences between these two groups on total behavior problem scores, the broad-band and narrow-band syndromes. There was a significant age effect for internalizing problems, with older children receiving higher scores than younger children. Compared with American children, Bedouin children had higher levels of internalizing problems, particularly anxiety/depression. Bedouin boys also received lower scores on externalizing problems than American boys, while the scores for girls were similar to those for American girls. The results are discussed in terms of socialization goals and practices of Bedouin society.