ABSTRACT

Dorothy had individual sessions with a clinical psychologist over several months. For over one year, Dorothy had been constipated for periods of up to a fortnight. The psychologist tried to teach Dorothy and her mother different techniques based on behavioural lines, but they invariably proved ineffective. Dorothy seemed to accept the reassurance and visibly relaxed. Dorothy spoke with some sadness about the number of times she had to miss school due to her visits and admissions to hospital, but because hospital, home, and school were all in the same neighbourhood, her friends kept in touch with her. Mrs D commented about how she had feared Dorothy might resent the birth of the baby, but in fact she was proving to be “very mature” and always happy to help. The development of Dorothy’s body functions and body image was so intimately linked to her mother’s pathology that it would be difficult not to be pessimistic about Dorothy’s future.