Present‐Day Tasks in Psychosocial Paediatrics 1

Summary The concept of psychosocial paediatrics is defined on the basis of S egerstedt's investigations into family problems of our day and H alliday's investigations into social epidemiology. By including a psychosocial aspect in the examination of children referred for roborating light treatment (the Finsen Institute) or treatment at a hospital for deficient children (Kysthospitalet at Refsnaes) we have realized the importance of concentrating our attention on three different tasks in future paediatric work: social, pedagogic, and scientific. The practical result of this work is that the changed position of women in the home is demonstrated as a cause of illness in children. It is emphasized that an increased knowledge of the child's normal mental and physical growth and development may increase the chances of success by preventive paediatrics and by practical treatment of abnormal behaviour. A diagnostic system is suggested.