Physiological and psychiatric investigations into a group of mentally handicapped subjects with self-injurious behaviour.

Seventeen mentally handicapped patients with SIB (head banger) group are compared with a non-SIB group of similar grade and their behavioural and psychiatric ratings described. The recognition of a specific syndrome in SIB group is demonstrated and shown to lead to serious psychiatric disturbances. The importance of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment intervention among such a group is described.