The Psychological Aspects of the Doctor-Patient Interaction in the Healing Process: General Practitioners' Attitudes and Beliefs

Abstract

The present study had three main objectives. To survey: 1) General practitioners' views on the possibility of influencing different diseases by psychological means. 2) GPs' views on the doctor/patient relationship. 3) GPs' general interest in psychosomatic issues. Altogether 180 GPs completed the questionnaire. GPs found chronic disorders to be more easily influenced by psychological means than acute disorders, and they prefer the counsellor aspects of the doctor role to the caretaker aspects. They think psychosomatic issues are very relevant to their daily work.

Key Words:

• doctor/patient relationship
• psychological factors
• general practitioner
• healing process