title: Physician-patient communication.
abstract: Physicians can better manage pain patients by improving their own awareness of the psychodynamics of pain behavior. Pain may be influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors as well as prior personality characteristics. Patients may indulge in "pain games" that can result in what may be described as the "quack-crock" syndrome. The stress response to continuing pain, a vicious cycle of denial, anger, and depression, can be approached by the physician through the use of proper listening and educational techniques that help the patient to understand and better deal with his or her situation. Patients may then begin to take an active part in the recovery process.
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology