Stuart Goldman, MD, Director of the Depressive Disorder Clinic at Children’s Hospital responded to the following question:

Are there situations where families complain about their child, but struggle with making needed changes?

From time to time, I work with a family who on one hand complains
bitterly about a symptom in their child, yet on the other hand seem unable to join with me on their child's behalf or even seem to work against change in their child. I sometimes use humor to try to underline or diffuse this conflict. I sometimes use the following story from the movie "Annie Hall."

A man walks into a psychiatrist’s office and says " Doctor, doctor you have got to help me, my brother thinks that he is a chicken."

"That could be very serious, " says the doctor, "Bring him right in, I may have to put him in the hospital".

" I can't" says the man.

"Why not?" asks the doctor. " Because I need the eggs " he replies.

After telling the story I wonder "if you (the family or patient) need the eggs on this one?" Often it gets them to wonder in a non-defensive way, breaking what had been a stalled treatment. While sometimes comforting, it is also difficult to hear another person articulate and agree with your description of your child’s symptoms.