Improving the physician-patient relationship utilizing psychodynamic psychology: a primer for health professionals

BACKGROUND: The quality of the physician-patient relationship is associated with improved healthcare outcomes and patients’ complaints due to dissatisfaction. Factors that influence the quality of the physician-patient relationship include verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and clinical empathy. These factors have been studied from diverse theoretical approaches hindering their integration into a theoretical framework applicable in clinical practice and accessible for lay clinicians. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to put forward a psychodynamic framework that includes the factors associated with a better quality of the physician-patient relationship and is applicable in clinical practice and accessible for lay clinicians. THEORETICAL DISCUSSION: Basic concepts necessary to comprehend transference and countertransference phenomena were outlined. Then, based on the concepts of transference and countertransference, a psychodynamic framework to understand and manage the physician-patient relationship was put forward. CONCLUSION: This is the first paper that presents a psychodynamic framework applicable in clinical practice and accessible to lay clinicians for understanding and managing the physician-patient relationship. Additionally, this work could serve as introductory material to Balint groups.