In a psychiatric outpatient clinic we see a variety of symptoms and/or personality disorders. The object-relations-theory offers a frame of reference to devide the patients into two groups. On the one side the patients who can depend on fairly mature and stable self- en object-relations. Their symptomatology is mostly related to an intrapsychic conflict that they try to keep unconscious. Interpretations may be helpfull. On the other side the patients who suffer from a developmental arrest in the maturation of their self- and object-relations. Their symptoms sometimes are to be regarded as a compromise, a restricting way of keeping up with their defects. Interpretations may be harmfull because they can work out as assaults on their unstable self representation. A supportive psychotherapy is more preferable.