title: Psychological aspects of recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in preadolescent boys.
abstract: This paper examines the psychotherapeutic treatment of two preadolescent boys who presented with recurrent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis. The diabetic ketoacidotic episode is interpreted as a developmentally primitive response to stress in emotionally immature patients who have failed to master age-appropriate developmental tasks in areas of separation, gender identity, and self-esteem. Individuation, differentiation, and acquiring the capacity to use language to express emotions are major therapeutic goals.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012649:Self Concept; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications