Fifteen years have passed since ‘The disorders of the self and their treatment: an outline’ (Kohut & Wolf 1978) presented an up-to-date survey of the progress that had been achieved in the development of self psychology. It seems now that the time is ripe for another stock-taking. Especially diagnosis, aetiology and treatment possibilities should be brought in line with accumulating clinical experience. The content and focus of this essay are determined by an attempt to clarify aspects of theory and practice that have remained problematical. Again, as in 1978, a classification of self disorders forms the centre of this survey.