The emotional dynamics of physical illness.
The stress of acute, severe illness penetrates the patient's intrapsychic defenses to varying depths. The physician who deals with the resulting regressive behavior must identify and strengthen the overwhelmed defenses. Management includes the judicious use of drugs, accurate interpretation of the patient's behavior, and acceptance of the patient. The physician's countertransferential feelings can be helped by the understanding of a trusted colleague.
D003379:Countertransference; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012043:Regression, Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy