Birth Order and Psychiatric Problems in Boot Camp

The author discusses results of 323 psychiatric evaluations at a military recruit training camp based on the subjects' birth order. Only children were more likely than first children to consult the psychiatrist, to be diagnosed as psychoneurotic, and to be discharged from the service. Diagnoses of first children were almost equally divided between psychoneurosis and personality disorder. Few second children were diagnosed as being psychoneurotic; they were usually diagnosed as having personality disorders. implications of these findings are discussed.