Psychosomatic Medicine 15:252-255 (1953)
© 1953 American Psychosomatic Society

Psychotherapy of a Hospitalized Orthopedic Patient

¹ Child Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry; the Department of Pediatrics; and the Orthopedic Service of the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City

An example of psychotherapy of children on the pediatric wards is presented. It is felt that therapy should be manipulative rather than interpretative, and that the establishing of a positive transference of the anaclitic type is essential. The aim of treatment is limited to coping with the child's emotional problems during hospitalization. This approach can be successful only if we work as a team with the pediatrician, social worker, psychologist, and in this case the orthopedist.

In this case, because of the age of our patient and the limitation of time, it was necessary to speculate as to what was disturbing her and to formulate our therapeutic program. Based on these speculations certain mechanical adjuncts to therapy were constructed and her mother was allowed to visit daily. These proved effective in coping with her problems.