[Problems in dealing with difficult patients].

Abstract

There are difficult patients, but there are difficult therapists too. The problems on either side may encumber and disturb the relationship between the doctor and his patient. Based on the author's experience in the field of clinical psychiatry, of clinical as well as of out-patient psychotherapy, typical problems of interaction with so called difficult patients are presented. At first these groups of patients are characterized, which are frequently experienced by doctors as being particularly difficult. Doctors describe and explain certain features of those patient's character and behaviour. Furtheron problematic doctor-patient interactions may also be induced by problematic sides of the therapist. Typical problems of therapists are dealt with in the last part of the article.