Key Words: Physical Examination TO THE EDITOR: The psychiatrist is often faced with the term "medically cleared," which has come to mean that the patient has been adequately screened for serious medical problems and can now safely enter the psychiatry unit. It is easy to take comfort in this concept, breathe a sigh of relief, and let down your guard. Often the result is that our residents do not follow the physical findings along with the psychiatric findings during the patient's hospitalization. Our colleagues pick up on this, and one result is endless jokes about whether we are real doctors or not. More important, it places patients at risk who may have medical or neurological illness contributing to their psychiatric symptoms. Many factors contribute to this situation. The first may relate to countertransference. We are aware of this process in therapy, but we may not be aware of the same process in the emergency room. Psychiatric patients, especially if they are disturbed, can evoke many negative emotions in medical clinicians, including fear, anger, and avoidance. There are many reasons for such countertransference. Physicians are not immune to the negative stereotypes that are addressed to many of our patients.
The Importance of the Physical Examination in a Psychiatry Residency Program
Abstract
Key Words: Physical Examination TO THE EDITOR: The psychiatrist is often faced with the term "medically cleared," which has come to mean that the patient has been adequately screened for serious medical problems and can now safely enter the psychiatry unit. It is easy to take comfort in this concept, breathe a sigh of relief, and let down your guard. Often the result is that our residents do not follow the physical findings along with the psychiatric findings during the patient's hospitalization. Our colleagues pick up on this, and one result is endless jokes about whether we are real doctors or not. More important, it places patients at risk who may have medical or neurological illness contributing to their psychiatric symptoms. Many factors contribute to this situation. The first may relate to countertransference. We are aware of this process in therapy, but we may not be aware of the same process in the emergency room. Psychiatric patients, especially if they are disturbed, can evoke many negative emotions in medical clinicians, including fear, anger, and avoidance. There are many reasons for such countertransference. Physicians are not immune to the negative stereotypes that are addressed to many of our patients.Preview Only. This article cannot be rented because we do not currently have permission from the publisher.
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The Importance of the Physical Examination in a Psychiatry Residency Program
Norton, John
Follow Academic Psychiatry
, Volume 25 (4): 236
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc (Journal) – Dec 1, 2001
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