A Case of Mild School Refusal: Rest-Activity Cycle and Filial Violence

Abstract

In Japan, adolescent school refusers often commit violence against their parents, particularly against their mothers. The authors investigated the relationship between the test-activity (sleep and wakefulness) cycle and the filial violence of one adolescent school refuser. His mother voluntarily recorded his daily life over a period of about 11 mo. This record included the rest-activity cycle, filial violence, school attendance, and other kinds of behavior. This school refuser was more likely to commit violence during the epoch of disturbed test-activity cycle. We believe that the direct manipulation of the circadian system is worth investigating as a new approach to developing a treatment of school refusal.