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Dr. Herskovitz outlined contemporary problems in childhood schizophrenia. Dr. Freedman summarized the contemporary working hypotheses of the Bellevue research group, which finds that the basic difficulties result from 'dysmaturation' of certain foetal physiological processes. 'From this maturational problem arise the anxiety, body image difficulties, and defective identifications and relationships' that ultimately lead to trouble in relationships with other persons.
Dr. Ekstein described the invention of a 'time machine' by a schizoid boy which enabled him to control contemporary problems by projecting them into the past. Ekstein discussed the function of memory and reconstruction in normal adjustment to life and in therapy, concluding that 'the psychotherapeutic process consists of the exchange of one childhood myth for another' in order to offer a more suitable rationale for life.
Dr. Sperling emphasized that childhood schizophrenia is partly a reaction to the mother; her unconscious attitudes must be influenced by therapy. Dr. Fabian pointed out that the disorder is in fact a family problem and may necessitate the treatment of all members of the family. Dr. Mahler, whose outline of the concept of symbiotic psychosis was much discussed at the round table, outlined the problem of recognizing this condition. Dr. Gardner correlated schizophrenic types with learning difficulties. Dr. Kaplan questioned the Bellevue concept of a congenital disorder. Dr. Kanner felt that the discussion confirmed the impression that the term schizophrenia includes a variety of disorders.