The Psychology of Medical Practice.

This book was written to aid physicians in handling psychological problems commonly met in medical practice. Following a discussion of the doctor-patient relationship, common problems in the fields of medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics are considered. A separate chapter deals with the problems presented by the patient with cancer and a concluding chapter considers the pros and cons of nonmedicinal prescriptions, such as vacations. The book is written as a series of questions and answers: What should you tell a patient about his illness? How should you tell a patient about his illness? What does a heart attack mean to the patient? How do you prepare a patient for long-term rehabilitation? How should the patient with cancer be prepared for surgery? How should you approach a patient if her baby is a monster? What should the physician's attitude be about using a placebo? These and many similar practical questions are