The concept of borderline states raises questions about nosology, psychopathology and treatment. This borderline-concept will be approached, on one hand, with regard to the baby/teen problematic, and, on the other hand, from the perspective of institutional structures. The author stresses the importance of a two-way reading of the theory of deferred action, then recalls some principles of the baby/teen problematic. Lastly, the example of Therapeutic, Educative and Pedagogical Institutions (ITEP) is presented as a way of thinking about mediating structures.
After having specified the central theoretical problematics in the latency period, the paper underscores the fact that latency is a period unlike others, and is the result of a co-construction between the child and adults. Starting from there, we can consider that suicide attempts in preadolescence for which the current increase in rates in Western societies is undeniable can perhaps be related to the fact that babies are no longer allowed enough time to be babies
Adolescence, 2016, 34, 2, 385-403.
Revue semestrielle de psychanalyse, psychopathologie et sciences humaines, indexée AERES au listing PsycINFO publiée avec le concours du Centre National du Livre et de l’Université de Paris Diderot Paris 7