ABSTRACT
The difference between psychoanalysis and child psychiatry is chiefly that in the former one tries to get the chance to do as much as possible, whereas in the latter one asks: how little need one do? Patrick had a delayed reaction to a tragedy in which he was involved at the age of 11 years. The delay belonged partly to the fact that he was already ill at the time of the tragedy, and the tragic episode could be said to be a part of the boy's total illness. The family had a town house in London and a holiday cottage on an island off the coast. Patrick said that he had thought of running away in the autumn term. The mother reported that Patrick had made good progress. He was top of his form at school and he was enjoying work; the school report was good.
