Using psychological skills to promote health in the family

Abstract

In the same way as medication has side effects, so also a visit to (or by) the doctor may have psychological "side effects", such as relief, worry, suspicion, guilt feelings or blame. Sometimes psychological factors are themselves the central issues behind the symptoms treated by the doctor, as in the case of psychosomatic illness and stress induced illness. The doctor's role is not merely to diagnose and prescribe treatment, but also to advise patient on lifestyle, attitudes and preventive measures. How well a doctor's propositions are attended to and implemented by the patients and their caregivers depends heavily on how doctors put their message across and the nature of the doctor-patient relationship. What follows is a series of psychological skills that can enable doctors to notice these psychological "side" or central "effects" , and to use these to arrive at an optimal working relationship with the patient. In medical jargon, this paper is a sure-fire prescription for an effective bedside manner.