[Goncharov's novel Oblomow as an example of the story of impeded convalescence].
After the termination of an illness involving a long period of being bedridden and in need of care, not every patients is willing to immediately terminate the state of being ill. Some patients show a more or less concealed resistance to return into their customary social lives, which can hinder the progress of convalescence and rehabilitation. Two of the possible bases for such behaviour were described in depth in medical, but above all in non-medical literature: for one in Goncarov's novel Oblomov, published in 1859, and for another in numerous reports concerning the possible consequences of boredom. To recognize a patient's proneness to such behaviour at an early stage and to be able to implement appropriate countermeasures, extensive knowledge of the person of Oblomov, so called oblomovism, and boredom with its various sequelae is required.