Abstract
Method
Medical professionals (n = 77), clinical psychologists (n = 40), and psychology students (n = 115) were shown with four different manifestations of headache (neutral, somatic trauma, anxious–depressed, and severe
somatizing). Health professionals rated their initial cognitive and emotional responses using a standardized questionnaire.
somatizing). Health professionals rated their initial cognitive and emotional responses using a standardized questionnaire.
Results
The severe somatizing and anxious–depressed patients with headache evoked significantly more negative cognitive and emotional
responses in all three samples. Even brief exposure to a patient’s story yields specific initial responses from various health
care professionals irrespective of their disciplines.
responses in all three samples. Even brief exposure to a patient’s story yields specific initial responses from various health
care professionals irrespective of their disciplines.
Conclusion
Patients with headache and with a distressed presentation evoke significantly more negative cognitive and emotional responses
in different health care professionals. Health care professionals should be more aware of their own response to difficult
patients; in this way they will be more capable of managing this patient group.
in different health care professionals. Health care professionals should be more aware of their own response to difficult
patients; in this way they will be more capable of managing this patient group.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9232-7
- Authors
- C. Paul van Wilgen, Transcare, Transdisciplinary Pain Management Centre, Barkmolenstraat 196, 9723 DM Groningen, The Netherlands
- Maaike Koning, Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Theo K. Bouman, Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503