CARETA, D. S.; MOTTA, I. F. da. O diagnóstico precoce em crianças abrigadas [Precocious psychological diagnosis in sheltered children]. Encontro: Revista de Psicologia, v. 11, n. 16, 2007.
Abstract: this essay is aimed at understanding theoretically the emotional experience of a child who has been institutionalized since a very early age. It also attempts to unveil her emotional development through the comprehensive diagnosis. According to Winnicott, the child faced with hardship is bound to present traumatic emotional history – jeopardizing her emotional development – stressing the importance of the diagnosis. Isabela, five years old, admitted into an institution at the age of one month due to gross negligence (left to starve and lacking medical care), who fell prey to physical violence. Carried out on the premises of an institution located in São Paulo, a One-Hour-Game is set, along with the Drawing-and-Story Procedure, as tools for the comprehensive diagnosis. We make use of the clinical method, case study with psychoanalytic approach, according to D.W. Winnicott’s lights. The child is able to communicate dissociation when faced with situations that contribute to breaks and intense anguish, as the Drawing-and-Story Procedure goes on; she shows no signs of vivacity, in contrast with her bounce during Game Time. Another point taken into account is the influence of the environment in the process of emotional development. Thus, the child is referred to psychotherapy sessions. One may conclude that, properly conducted, the comprehensive diagnosis favors intervention aiming at the child’s psychic rehabilitation. And by doing so prevents juvenile delinquency, considering the social context.