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The panel on "An Examination of Nosology According to Psychoanalytic Concepts" at the Midwinter Meeting of 1959, resulted in leaving the door open for increased exploration and further discussion of the acknowledged inadequacies of the current nosological systems as they apply to the ordering of pathology in childhood. At this later time, it was agreed that the dissatisfaction with these systems continues to exist, and with it, an ever-increasing awareness of the difficulties involved in bringing about a conceptualization which would offer new methods in organizing emotional disorder. In this mutual expression of concern and discontent, the panel members of this Midwinter Meeting of 1962 fell natural heir to the challenge presented by the nosological enigma.
In attempting to deal categorically with the developmental conditions of childhood, one may anticipate greater hazards than those encountered in the formulation of a nosology for adults: at the same time, this panel appeared to have adopted an optimistic approach to the task of seeking out new advances to the problem of childhood nosology. The specific characteristic of childhood—the process of development—became the pivotal point of orientation around which a system of classification was to be built.
The papers addressed themselves to historical and theoretical questions and offered clinical material and new systems of nosology. One of the outstanding themes throughout was that of Anna Freud's propositions based on her efforts to contribute toward the assessment of normality and pathology.