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Published on: July 19, 2017
Patients' performance anxiety and related aspects as factors in resistance to change
1North Metropolitan Area Mental Health, Perth, WA, Australia. Sam.Restifo@health.wa.gov.au
Objective:
The purpose of this paper is to touch on some aspects of patients' potentially ambivalent attitude toward change in the early stages of treatment.
Method:
A de-identified case study is used as a springboard for discussing these issues.
Conclusion:
A range of factors can affect a person's confidence in, commitment to, and results from their treatment. Some of these include: the patient feeling that the nature of their problem--including any ambivalence to change--has been adequately understood; the clinician expressing reassurance or encouragement only after due consideration; the clinician and patient discussing their respective expectations at the outset so as to minimize any subsequent disenchantment; and recognizing the possible presence of a patient's performance anxiety around fearing he or she may fail to respond to treatment and disappoint not only him- or herself but others as well.
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