ABSTRACT
The patient, an economist, is thirty-eight years old and has been in analysis with me for almost a year. He and his sister were sent, as children, to live with the grandparents because the parents decided to devote all their attention to the brother who is mentally deficient. The patient refers to himself as 'an orphan with living parents'. His physical appearance is good; he is well-mannered and is punctual. I have the impression that his contact with me has some ritualistic aspects.
