[Anxiety of physicians about addiction therapy]

An analysis of reasons why many physicians show considerable reservations towards sufficient diagnostic and treatment measures of alcohol-related disorders produced several factors: (a) guilt and aggression are linked to addictive disorders in an unproportional way, exceeding the common disease concept; (b) defense mechanisms on the part of the physician as well as the patient impair the therapeutic relationship. (c) Motivation and treatment of alcoholic patients could be improved by offering Balint groups, therapeutic supervision and intensified training of physicians.