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Practice Commentary
Valerie P. Pendley, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1997;6(5):476.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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Women and children make up a large percentage of a family physician's practice, and although only a few may have somatization disorder, many will have similar experiences and reactions to those experiences as the 10 women in this study. Several concepts illustrated help us to understand these patients better.
First, these patients may be addicted to seeing the physician, almost getting a high from the nurturing interaction that occurs when they become sick. By providing a brief but regular visit, the physician allows the patient access to several nurturing experiences, including a friendly receptionist, a favorite nurse or assistant, and even fellow patients, without requiring a specific complaint or illness.
Second, a family physician can inadvertently become a coconspirator in the code of silence when the child and abuser share the same physician. The strength of family practice centers around several principles, including the advantage of knowing and caring
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
Chestnut Hill Hospital Philadelphia, Pa
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