Correlation between inpatient and ambulatory psychotherapy exemplified by a case of secondary encopresis in preadolescence

: By comparing the in-patient and out-patient psychotherapeutic treatment of a patient with encopresis in early adolescence the authors develop a psychoanalytical understanding of the psychotherapeutic effects which the different settings have on the patient and his parents. In the authors' opinion both forms of therapy supplement each other and promote the patient's development during the course of treatment.