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This paper begins with the hypnosis theory of schizophrenia (HTS), presenting evidence supporting it, revising it, and discussing it in relation to ego development during the first year of life. New data will not be presented; instead, data collected by the author and others have been used to formulate a coherent theory. In light of this theory, specific phases of ego development are seen as instrumental in the development of that personality which later develops a schizophrenic reaction. The development of this personality requires certain peculiar interpersonal dynamics between mother and child. The character of these dynamics is described, and it is indicated where we should look in the further collection of data in order to substantiate what is believed to be a major solution to the riddle of schizophrenia.
There has been question that schizophrenia is a single disease. Fenichel7 has written that schizophrenia is not a definite nosological entity but rather embraces a whole group of diseases, while Bellak4 has viewed schizophrenia as a syndrome which is the terminal point of a number of disturbances which have caused severe damage of the ego.
However, there are other ego disturbances which fail to show the peculiarities of schizophrenia, and certain borderline and near-schizophrenic states which fail to show severe ego disturbances. We