This study was carried out to examine associations between classroom climate and pupils' mental health in primary school, and whether pupils who had emotional and behavioural problems in the second grade are more vulnerable to the effects of a poor classroom climate 4 years later. The study was carried out by means of questionnaires to teachers. The students (n = 861) were surveyed in the second (aged 8 years, Time 1) and sixth grade (aged 12 years, Time 2). The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire (RB2) at Time 1 and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) at Time 2 were used to measure internalizing, externalizing and total problem scores. Classroom climate was measured using a composite variable at Time 2. The results show associations between poor sixth-grade classroom climate and an increase in emotional and behavioural problems in both boys and girls. In addition, the girls who were overall poorly adjusted, particularly those who had externalizing problems in the second grade, were especially vulnerable to a poor classroom climate in the sixth grade.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the nature of comorbidity between internalising and externalising syndromes and its meaning in the course of these syndromes from 8 to 12 years of age in a school setting. The children in the cohort (N = 1320) were born in 1981. They were first surveyed in second grade (N = 1284) and followed up in sixth grade (N = 906). Teachers were the informants, and the study was carried out by means of a questionnaire. Data from both points of time were available on 861 subjects. The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire (RB2) measured behavioural and emotional symptoms at Time 1, and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) at Time 2. Comorbidity was more prevalent in boys than girls. Childhood comorbidity predicted externalising syndrome and comorbidity, but not internalising syndrome in early adolescence. It changed the course of boys' internalising syndromes to an externalising direction over time. The data suggest a gender difference in the pattern of comorbidity. When comorbidity was partialled out, it was very rare for internalising and externalising syndromes to develop into contrasting syndromes over time. The recovery rate for childhood comorbidity was poor. Special attention should be paid to making schools recognise and help these children.

This study examines equality in education during a national recession when the supply of special services has decreased. Who gets selected for the scanty services? The need for and the availability of special services (remedial instruction, special education and psychological counselling) were studied with reference to students' social, family and personal factors. The sample included 906 sixth-graders from southern Finland and the study was carried out by means of questionnaires to students and teachers. A considerable gap was found between need and supply of special services. The need for services was widely related to the background factors. The selection process was biased against boys in remedial instruction, internalising children in psychological counselling, and it favoured students with more resources: those achieving well, being motivated and having a higher socio-economic status. The study reveals one possible pathway aggravating inequality in education.

The heights of 59 patients with acromegaly and their first-degree relatives were studied. The mean height SD score (SDS) for the patients was 0.93\m=+-\1.19 (equivalent to 5.6 cm above the population mean), and for their siblings (N=166) 0.39 \m=+-\1.05 (2.3 cm above the population mean) (P <10-5 for difference from the general population). The height distribution of both groups was markedly positively skewed. Probably the parents were as tall (in relation to the population of their age) as the siblings. Growth data were available for 13 of the patients and showed that the height of the tall (SDS>2.0) patients had increased by 2.5-10 (mean 5) cm after normal cessation of growth. This explains the extra height of the patients over their siblings. Only 2 of the 13 patients became oversized for their families during the normal growth period. We suggest that in a part of the population with acromegaly the disease is associated with primary genetic tallness.