Abstract
The Riley-Day syndrome, also known by the name Familial Dysautonomia, is characterized by a marked deficit in autonomic homeostatic function. A review of the literature and a case illustration describe the physical, emotional, social and learning problems. It is now known that sub-normal intelligence is not part of the syndrome. The impact of the symptoms on the child and on the mother-child relationship may aggravate the deficient emotional balance. Since marked improvement of the condition does occur, especially in patients who reach the age of six, a hopeful attitude in the guidance and treatment is justified and highly beneficial.
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Psychologist, training in the same department. This study was supported by the Natalie Zucker Fund in Child Psychiatry. The valuable help of Dr. S. Silman is gratefully acknowledged.
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Meijer, A., Hovne, R. Child psychiatric problems in “Autonomous dysfunction’. Child Psych Hum Dev 12, 96–105 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709626
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709626