title: The 'problem patient': modest advice for frustrated clinicians.
abstract: "Problem patients" are rare, but they take up a disproportionate amount of clinician time and energy. They often are defined in terms of the effect they have on clinicians rather than any specific behavior - such effects can include frustration, self-doubt and unprofessional behavior. The key to avoiding those pitfalls is to take a deeper look and understand what is behind patients' problematic behaviors. Given the vagueness of the term there are many potential etiologies, most of which are addressable, at least in part. This article presents a brief guide to identifying and managing the various conditions that can cause a disruption of the usually rewarding doctor-patient relationship, and also encourages us to consider the role we might play in this disruption.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boland
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Problem patient; conflict (psychology); difficult patient; hateful  patient; physician-patient relations; professionalism