Psychoanalytically oriented in-patient treatment of severe juvenile psychoses

The paper describes framework, theoretical concepts and practice of a psych oanalytically oriented therapy with adolescent psychotics in in-patient tre atment. The close dovetailing of educational work in everyday life which is reflected upon psychoanalytically and of classical therapeutic sessions is stressed. One must always keep in mind that acting in everyday life behavi our has a defensive component as well as one which facilitates emotional gr owth and has thus great maturational significance for every adolescent. The often very expressive and rapidly changing psychopathology of adolescent p sychotics should also be reflected and understood in these terms. The analy sis of the very complex transference/countertransference relationship invol ving the whole therapeutic team is an outstanding factor in such a psychoth erapeutic concept. Thus the team's capacity to adapt itself individually to every patient's conflictual dynamics even in everyday life on the ward is supported. This is the basis for the aspired therapeutic success to stabili se the patient and to remove developmental obstacles.