[Mental disorders in adolescence and their therapeutic approach implications between theory and practice]

After a developmental description of the adolescent process, the author describes the manner of initiating psychotherapeutic treatment for psychologically disturbed adolescents. Despite the inevitable reappearance of primitive defense mechanisms and ego positions, it is possible and necessary to distinguish between temporary stress or crises and psychic breakdown corresponding to specific development impairment necessitating, imperatively, therapeutic help. The author attempts to find a conceptual link between apparently opposite theoritical positions such as intra- and supra-individual doctrines. Ideally, when confronted with borderline or psychotic pathology, family therapy should be coupled with individual psychotherapy. Finally, the therapist's counterattitudes are discussed.