The Experience of Reality in Childhood Schizophrenia, by Austin M. Des Lauriers. London,  Tavistock Publications; New York,  International Universities Press, 1962. pp.  215. 35s.; $5.00.

The number of reports of successful therapy with schizophrenic patients is growing. It is apparent that the disorder can be treated in a variety of ways, though no theoretical structure has yet been discovered which will explain them all.

Des Lauriers has based his study on the theory of ego psychology which has been developing in the United States, and the first chapter contains an interesting summary of these researches. He then applies the ideas to schizophrenia (this book incidentally is about adolescence and not childhood) and hypothesizes a defect in the ego which needs to be remedied by a “forceful, insistent, intruding” approach to the patient; it includes “physical, sensual, intellectual, affective, emotional, conative and motoric contact between the patient and the therapist”. His procedure has the aim of developing ego boundaries, creating a sense of personal identity, and orientating the patient in the external world.

There is a fairly detailed account of how he proceeded with an adolescent boy (aged 15); the description covers 116 interviews. From this case he predicts the course others will follow and gives excerpts from their treatment. As a check on his findings he used projection, performance, and intelligence tests and, in the aggregate, he convincingly demonstrates that patients who had been many years in hospital became adapted, returned home, and remained well.

It is a remarkable piece of research excellently presented and worthy of serious study by all those interested in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia.