title: The difficult patient.
abstract: A large percentage of any general practitioner's time is taken up by a small number of patients, the 'difficult' patient. These patients often have chronic, painful problems, and are unresponsive to traditional medical methods. By understanding the concepts of the patient centred clinical method, and looking beyond the traditional biological model of disease, an approach to these patients can be developed that is simple and enduring.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations