A 7-year-old boy is taken to the general practitioner because he is having regular and severe temper tantrums. His mother explains that this has been going on for 3 months. It has gradually become worse to the point where he can be screaming for an hour every evening. It usually occurs when he has been asked to do something that he does not want to do, such as getting ready for bed. When asked if he has always been a difficult child, his mother explains that he used to be more biddable, although he has always had a strong character.
His 5-year-old sister, by contrast, as always been placid. His father used to deal with difficult behavior by clear and firm instructions. He had a close bond with his father, with whom he went fishing. His parents split up four and a half months ago. His father had an affair with a woman from work, and while he initially stayed in the house there were…
