Metamorphoses of relatives in clinical psychiatry
Stoffels, H.
Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie Psychopathologie und Psychotherapie 34(2): 157-168
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0723-6557 PMID: 3788247 Document Number: 277248
Working in a clinical setting the psychiatrist experiences relatives of patients in varying situations. Our study describes the relative playing the role of the accompanying person, the role of the visitor, the role of the accused and the role of a group member. The distortions of perspective being an immanent danger of psychiatric therapeutic endeavour can also deform the three-cornered-relationship between physician, patient and relative. Deformation of this triangle can be avoided by the therapist critically reflecting the possible beneficial role of the relative for the course of the psychiatric illness.