"Mama's Boy" Syndrome

The author traces the dependent mother-child interaction that develops during the child's infancy and results in a critical social deficit for the child. Most of the 13 children studied did not improve with outpatient therapy but did benefit from short-term hospitalization. The author concludes that hospitalization of children with a mild symbiotic relationship and a great deal of ego differentiation is helpful in bringing about further growth and other social changes in their personal structures.