Through the use of the technique of brief psychotherapy, often amounting to little more than marriage counsultation, the author has expounded the virtues and benefits attainable in the area of psychosexual problems, here limited to that of nonconsummation of marriage. This monograph represents a cursory review of discussion seminars relating to 100 instances from a series of 700 patients seen during a 2 1/2-year period. The study was conducted by ten women doctors, none of whom were trained psychiatrists, from Family Planning Association clinics under the psychiatric guidance of Dr. Michael Balint. The case histories were reviewed individually and collectively for the purpose of determining etiologic patterns, and, when indicated, for recommendations as to therapy.
Three major types of patterns appeared to evolve in these studies. These are represented by pertinent coined expressions, including (1) "Sleeping Beauty," echoing childhood fantasies and suggesting