[Separation anxiety and reunion in the transference in 4 children]

In four ongoing cases treated with psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the reactions presented before and after a Christmas break and the place of such reactions in the transference are examined. Separation-anxiety was evident and expressed clearly in typical reactions. However, during the reunion, the reactions took diverse forms: failure to recognise the therapist; use of maniac defenses, use of body language and self injury; verbal and motor inhibition, use of symbolic angry material and concern for a fantasied baby.