ABSTRACT
Jane’s story is a rich illustration of the ways in which a child will use physical complaints to convey distress to his or her parents. Jane was a very intelligent and articulate eight-year-old who attended a highly academic school, where she always achieved good results. The GP had found no abnormality in his examination, but he wondered whether Jane might be presenting “a migrainous condition or even some sort of curious epileptiform phenomenon”. The paediatrician explored in depth Jane’s account of her symptoms, and she also learnt of family events that had affected Jane’s life. Jane and Mrs J formed a very attractive pair. Mrs J was young, good looking, well dressed, and self-possessed; Jane was pretty and immaculately turned out, though shy and reserved. Both Jane and her mother were disturbed by this unexpected sequence and the appearance of a conflict where Jane’s loyalty was put to the test.
