[Secondary gain and the need to be ill].
BACKGROUND
Freud introduced two concepts of illness gain-one was a more external conscious adaptive form of gain, called secondary gain, and the other was a more internal unconscious destructive form of gain, called the need to be ill. Both forms of illness gain are interdependent and secondary gain can generate a need to be ill.


METHODS
Empirical research was used to examine the question of how and why some disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, repetitive strain injury, and whiplash injury, are liable to generate illness gain in affected individuals.


RESULTS
This article describes how and why these disorders are becoming more common.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important for the therapist to know the background of these disorders in order to be able to combat the associated secondary gain.
van Egmond
J J
JJ
Hospital Psiquiátrico Brinkgreven, Deventer. j.vanEgmond@adhesie.nl
D001294:Attitude to Health; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012803:Sick Role; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*