In psychiatric literature there is a lack of interest in the psychodynamics of mildly retarded and borderline intelligence adults, despite the fact that these patients are known to be plagued by emotional problems and that their psychic conflicts, mobilization of defenses, and neurotic/psychotic solutions often represent a model of psychodynamic transparency. The authors discuss the special problems of development and adjustment to the community of these patients, and provide four case studies with psychodynamic formulations.