Enfant maltraité et parent psychotique

Abstract

Is it concevable for clinician who is concerned with the welfare and development of the child to leave it in the presence of an ill-treating psychotic parent? Some professionals are inclined to privilege the filial tie, whereas others believe that the child is not there to treat the parent, especially when it is under the aggressive attacks of the parent. Through clinical vignettes the article proposes to go through different criteriums to help clinicians to come to a decision to separate the child or not from its parent. Four sphere are explored: on concerning the child, one the adult, one the quality of their relation and finally one taking into account the socio-familial environment.