Encopresis in adolescence: two case studies

Encopresis is an underreported psychopathological symptom of adolescence, not necessarily defining a specific diagnostic entity. The two cases presented offer an opportunity to evaluate encopresis occurring in markedly different adolescent pathological entities and developmental backgrounds. The first patient presented a longitudinal life course wherein toilet training and fecal considerations were prominent throughout his development. Indeed, this young man had such areas of cohesive functioning, as to be appropriately considered within the range of characterological pathology, severe, though it may be. In marked contrast, the second patient's encopresis represented but a small part of a totally encompassing psychotic disintegration.