Loners

Loners describes a unique group of solitary children who were unable to adapt to the social and educational demands of school life. All were seen in a child psychiatric setting over a twenty year period. Some of these children were gifted; most coped better once they had left school. Sula Wolff brings together the results of a number of studies of these 'schizoid' children and illustrates the findings with detailed case histories. The condition of the children is thought to represent a constitutional deviation of personality development. It is discussed in relation to Asperger's original description of autistic psychopathy of childhood and in relation to current diagnostic practices in child and adult psychiatry. Loners makes the case for the clinical recognition of such children although they are on the whole not nearly as impaired as those children who are currently given a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Even when mildly affected, they and their parents need a treatment approach which differs from that for children with disorders due to adverse life experiences. Loners will help psychiatrists and other professionals towards a realistic approach to the treatment and education of people with this condition, both children and adults.