ABSTRACT
The general practitioner referred Bridget, aged twelve, because her mother had found that Bridget had stolen some money from her purse and that she had also been truanting from school. Mrs B was immensely distraught and crying when she spoke to the secretary to make the appointment. She felt that suddenly some colossal gap had opened up between Bridget and herself; she described asking Bridget questions and meeting no more than “a vacant look”. Mrs B wanted to see the doctor as soon as possible, and she was pleased when the secretary told her of a cancellation for the following day. The secretary told me of her impression that Mrs B showed a degree of anxiety in total disproportion to the account of Bridget’s behaviour.
