Issues connected with sexuality create conflict and countertransference dilemmas for staff who work with psychiatric adolescents in a therapeutic community. A system is proposed for articulating and working through these feelings, whereby the residential treatment center allows adolescents to develop a sense of self. (Author/NRB)

This paper attempts to describe the psychopathology of the borderline patient. Descriptive features of the syndrome in children, adults, and adolescents are given. Genetic considerations and psychic structures are discussed with their resulting treatment implications. Finally, outpatient treatment strategies are presented in detail, including…