Types of Difficult Patients Described by Physician Participants (N = 101)*
| Main Type of Problem | Category of Patient Descriptors | Examples of Descriptors | Frequency of Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behavior problems | Stay sick behaviors | Worried well | 19 |
| Ignoring problems | 4 | ||
| Noncompliant | 4 | ||
| Overly dependent | 4 | ||
| Social visits | 3 | ||
| Abdicates responsibility | 2 | ||
| Demanding behaviors | Demand own care | 19 | |
| Manipulative | 3 | ||
| Other patient behaviors | Whiner | 7 | |
| Unfocused | 3 | ||
| ER abuser | 1 | ||
| Family conflict | 1 | ||
| Hidden agenda | 1 | ||
| Excessively complimentary | 1 | ||
| Slow talkers | 1 | ||
| Medical problems | Multiple problems | Multiple complaints | 23 |
| Pain, drug problems | Drug seeking | 18 | |
| Chronic pain | 10 | ||
| Psychiatric problems | Borderline personality | 6 | |
| Substance abuse | 2 | ||
| Bipolar disorder | 1 | ||
| Miscellaneous problems | Difficult diagnoses | 2 | |
| Workman’s compensation | 2 | ||
| Partners’ patients | 2 |
* Participants could mention more than one type of difficult patient.