Dumb blond syndrome.

: In a retrospective study of sixteen female psychiatric patients who had received treatment over long periods of time, it was found that the patients' below-average intellectual functioning was an unrecognized primary factor in misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. All these patients had received psychotherapy (individual and group) and a wide variety of psychotropic medication. Several had been treated with ECT, also without benefit. We remind doctors that the presentation of the well-groomed, well-spoken, attractive female patient with social supports may conceal an element of intellectual handicap. We suggest awareness of this possibility may modify diagnostic and treatment procedures, so that the dangers of subsequent iatrogenic illness may be avoided.