Relationship between general practitioners' attitudes and methods of dealing with psychosocial problems

The relationship between general practitioners' attitudes and the methods they use when dealing with psychosocial problems was investigated using a questionnaire that was answered by a group of 30 general practitioners. The results showed that: (1) the doctor's desire to help is in general associated with the need to be appreciated; (2) when treating sexual problems, the giving of information is associated with a desire to change the patient; (3) when dealing with problems associated with chronic illness, the giving of encouragement to the patient is accompanied by a desire to give advice. The findings suggest that the way in which a general practitioner treats psychosocial problems depends partly on the type of problem and partly on his own attitude.