PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Randall V. Sellers
AU  - Ricardo Salazar
AU  - Cervando Martinez, Jr.
AU  - Stephen D. Gelfond
AU  - Melissa Deuter
AU  - Holly G. Hayes
AU  - Norma Ketchum
AU  - Brad H. Pollock
TI  - Difficult Encounters with Psychiatric Patients: A South Texas Psychiatry Practice-based Research Network (PBRN) Study
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2012.05.120050
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
PG  - 669--675
VI  - 25
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/5/669.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/5/669.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2012 Sep 01; 25
AB  - Purpose: To examine the prevalence of difficult psychiatrist-patient interactions of 20 psychiatrists in the South Texas Psychiatric practice-based research network, determine what characteristics were associated with “difficult” patients, and compare findings with previous studies in primary care. Methods: During a 2-month observational study, psychiatrists collected patient information on setting, demographics, diagnoses, and medications and rated the patients using the Difficult Doctor-Patient Relationship Questionnaire, which had previously been used and validated in the primary care setting. Results: A total of 905 valid data cards were collected. Difficult patients were identified in 15% of the sample. Diagnoses of schizophrenia, alcohol/substance abuse, and personality disorder were associated with difficulty. Psychiatrists least burdened by difficult patients were older and in a solo practice and worked 51 to 55 hours per week. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study demonstrates that psychiatrists encounter difficult patients at a rate (15%) similar to that of primary care physicians. Mentoring programs and structured treatment interventions for the most difficult patient groups may assist all physicians who treat psychiatric patients, whether in specialty, family medicine, or other primary care settings.