[Developmental delay, anxiety, deprivation and neglect: psychodynamics of a case of new problems].

This paper presents the case of a young child who displays an important developmental delay as well as anxiety symptoms. His condition is seen as concomitant to his impoverished environment. An analysis of his living circumstances permits one to make the reasonable hypothesis that the causal factor for the child's condition is the pathological interpersonal relations that exist between the child and his parents rather than the objective factors of his environment. Bibliographical material from various sources is used to reinforce the hypothesis. As a consequence of this analysis and hypothesis, concepts such as maltreatment, neglect, abuse, and deprivation are seen as having advanced knowledge when they appeared, but as impeding research at the present time.