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Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.128.6.712

The author traces the dependent mother-child interaction that develops during the child's infancy and results in a critical social deficit for the child. Most of the 13 children studied did not improve with outpatient therapy but did benefit from short-term hospitalization. The author concludes that hospitalization of children with a mild symbiotic relationship and a great deal of ego differentiation is helpful in bringing about further growth and other social changes in their personal structures.

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