ABSTRACT
For the third time in one month, 12-year-old Timothy was in the emergency room after violently attacking his family. This time, Timothy had threatened his grandmother with a knife, knocked over the television set, and left bruises on a neighbor who had come over to help restrain him. In the emergency room, Timothy was a model of self-control. He was pleasant and cooperative with the nurses and doctors. He told them he had “learned his lesson,” he was not going to do it again. He understood what upset him and he would “use words next time.” His affect certainly appeared on the surface to be “regulated” at this point. Should he be discharged and sent home from the hospital? If so, how soon would the whole scenario repeat itself?
