[Detection and early treatment of mental disorders in early childhood]

Neurotic and psychosomatic developmental disorders and the rare psychoses in early childhood should be recognized and treated at an early age. This paper shows some characteristic features of treatment, as nonverbal communication, frequent organic-functional symptoms, family systems that are just being built up, risk of competitive situations towards the parents (especially the mother), problems of the indication of transfer from the paediatrician to the psychotherapist. Because of its institutional concept the psychotherapeutic day-clinic is especially qualified for intensive and early treatment of problems due to age and development.