Adopted kids see long-lasting effects of Romanian orphanages LONDON (AP) — Romanian children adopted from overcrowded orphanages in the 1990s were more likely to suffer psychological problems as adults compared to other children taken in by British families, according to a decades-long study. Doctors say the findings suggest there is a critical window when young brains develop that may determine someone's future mental health, and that some problems might not be fixable later. Sonuga-Barke and colleagues looked for conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, symptoms of autism including poor communication and social skills, and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. Charles Nelson of Harvard University, who has studied Romanian orphans adopted in the U.S., said the results have implications for the millions of children around the world living in appalling circumstances.