Improving the physician-patient relationship utilizing psychodynamic psychology: a primer for health professionals

Abstract

Background The quality of the physician-patient relationship is associated with improved healthcare outcomes and patients’ complaints due to dissatisfaction. Factors that influence the quality of the physician-patient relationship include verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and clinical empathy. These factors have been studied from diverse theoretical approaches hindering their integration into a theoretical framework applicable in clinical practice and accessible for lay clinicians. Objective The aim of this paper is to put forward a psychodynamic framework that includes the factors associated with a better quality of the physician-patient relationship and is applicable in clinical practice and accessible for lay clinicians. Theoretical discussion Basic concepts necessary to comprehend transference and countertransference phenomena were outlined. Then, based on the concepts of transference and countertransference, a psychodynamic framework to understand and manage the physician-patient relationship was put forward. Conclusion This is the first paper that presents a psychodynamic framework applicable in clinical practice and accessible to lay clinicians for understanding and managing the physician-patient relationship. Additionally, this work could serve as introductory material to Balint groups.

Keywords

• countertransference
• empathy
• medical psychology
• physician-patient relations
• transference