The present prospective study examined, one year after delivery, the possible effects of early extra contact during the first hour following delivery. An extra skin-to-skin contact and suckling contact was allowed 22 primiparous mothers and their infants (P+ group). One control group of 20 primiparous mothers and their infants were given routine care immediately after birth (P group). During observation of a physical examination of the infant, ‘extra contact mothers’ held and touched their infants more frequently and more often talked positively to their infants than did mothers given routine care. ‘Extra contact mothers’ had returned to their professional employment outside the home to a lesser extent than had routine care mothers. A greater proportion of ‘extra contact’ infants slept in a room of their own. In the P+ group, mothers who had returned to gainful employment were also able to have their babies sleep in a room of their own—no such correspondence was found in the P group. The Gesell Developmental Schedules revealed that, in four parts out of five, infants with extra contact immediately after birth, were ahead of those in the control group. On the other hand, the Vineland Social Maturity Scale and the Cesarec Marke Personality Scheme did not reveal any major differences between the two groups. Mothers with early extra skin-to-skin contact and suckling contact breast-fed their infants on an average for 2 1/2 months longer than did routine care mothers. No other differences in feeding habits were found. The influence of extra contact was more pronounced in boy–mother than in girl–mother pairs.

Psychopathy-related personality traits as well as platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and criminality from the age of 15 years were studied in a group of 68 male former juvenile delinquents and 32 control subjects. The former juvenile delinquents registered for crime as adults were found to have higher Psychopathy Check List (PCL) scores and lower platelet MAO activity than either juvenile delinquents who were not registered criminals from the age of 15 years or non-criminal controls. Although PCL scores and platelet MAC activity were unrelated, a configural frequency analysis showed a significant interaction. Individuals with PCL scores, low platelet MAO activity and persistent criminal behaviour constituted a significant "type'. Among the 27 former juvenile delinquents who developed persistent criminality, 21 subjects (78%) had PCL scores greater than 0 and low platelet MAO activity, while none of these persistent criminals were characterized by a combination of zero PCL score and high platelet MAO activity.

A working assumption for many clinicians is that differences in personality functioning among eating‐disordered patients are crucial for treatment planning and prognosis. However, the empirical documentation is scarce. The present study used analyses of 13 objectively rated ego functions in a sample of 48 eating‐disordered patients to try to establish a firmer empirical basis in the area. The variation in ego functioning was great, and a cluster analysis identified four clusters. These were tentatively named “higher neurotic,” “lower neurotic,” “borderline,” and “borderline‐psychotic.” The clusters were unrelated to DSM‐III‐R eating disorder diagnoses and to the restricter/bulimic distinction and related markedly differently from those classifications to other clinical variables. The most interesting associations occurred between ego functioning and variables of possible prognostic value. Ego functioning thus constitutes a complementary diagnostic dimension of potential importance for prognosis.

Primiparous mothers and their infants who had had an extra 15-20 minutes skin-to-skin and suckling contact (P+) during the first hour after delivery behaved differently, had a longer duration of breast-feeding, and expressed different opinions on child rearing practices at follow-ups 36 hours, 3 and 12 months after delivery as compared with a control group (P) of primiparous mothers and their infants, who were given routine care immediately after birth. The present report is based on parts of the results of the follow-up at 3 years. Asked in retrospect more P mothers found the time together with their infants immediately after delivery to have been insufficient. More P+ children were reported to have been earlier continent during the day and also earlier stubborn than the children in the P group. The Denver Developmental Screening Test showed similar results in both groups. Catecholamine levels in the urine of extra contact mothers and their boys were found to be slightly higher than those of routine care mothers and boys. Two separate analyses of video-tapes of free play showed that mothers and children in the P+ group were smiling/laughing more often than P mothers and children. The P+ mothers were more encouraging and instructing towards their children than the P mothers. Articulated conflicts were more common in the P+ group. Regardless of the type of conflict, more conflicts in the P+ group were solved. As in earlier parts of this longitudinal study differences related to type of neonatal care were more pronounced for boy-mother than for girl-mother pairs.

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was estimated in 70 former delinquent boys and 40 controls now aged 38-46 years. Platelet MAO activity was compared with their early criminal behaviour (before the age of 15) and their late registered criminality from the age of 15). Mean platelet MAO activity in subjects with both early and late criminality was significantly lower than that in former delinquents without late criminality. There was no significant difference in mean platelet MAO activity between controls and delinquents with early but no late criminality. When delinquents with early criminality were divided into a low and a high MAO group, the relative risk to be registered for late criminality was about 3.1 times higher for the subjects in the low MAO group. Thus, individuals with low platelet MAO activity run an increased risk of continued criminal behaviour.