Dealing with staff reactions to perceived lack of progress by chronic mental patients

Staff who work with chronic mental patients are often frustrated by the patients' seeming failure to improve. However, a review of problem cases at a public mental hospital helped staff to realize that several patients had made incremental progress over a period of years. Two such cases are presented. Staff reactions to so-called problem patients are discussed, and ways that staff can handle their reactions to slow patient progress and thus improve patient care are suggested.