Abstract

GONZALEZ MENENDEZ, Ricardo. The placebo effects of the physician-patient relationship. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.5-6, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3038.

After some brief historical comments dealing with the influence of the first psychotherapeutic model on the already overcome trend to consider psychotherapy as out of the reach of the general physcian, the contributions of Carl Rogers are exposed on emphasizing the transcendency of the physcian's attitudes in the interpersonal relation and its greater transcendence in relation to the selected psychotherapeutic methods and resources. The similar results attained in the studies oriented to compare different psychotherapeutic modalities are also stressed. These findings ratify the importance of the affective links established between the health professional and his patients when the physician-patient relationship is successful. The 6 placebo effects of this relation stated by Shapiro and Frank since 1976 are described, and other 4 derived from the reflexions of the author's working team are added. It is emphasized that the initial limitations established for the general physician regarding his psychotherapeutical responsibilites, are unsustainable at present for the physicians capable of sensitizing themselves before the human drama. It is concluded that the therapeutical potentialities implicit in the placebo effects that have been described, justify even more the incursion of the general physician in the relation of psychological help.

Keywords : Physician-patient relationship; placebo effects.