Abstract

About the doctor-patient relationship has been written quite generally, but nevertheless, there is a lack of analysis on the theoretical and practical concepts regarding the specificity in the therapeutic approach and the discontinuity and pharmacological adherence. By “discontinuity of pharmacological therapy” is meant the interruption of the therapeutic scheme followed by a patient. Many factors influence the doctor-patient relationship in pharmacological treatment, which on the other hand overlap, but the two main factors are the doctor-patient relationship and the complexity/simplicity of the pharmacological treatment. In any case, the discontinuity of the treatment indicates in some way a discontinuity of the doctor-patient relationship. The doctor-patient therapeutic relationship is the environment where the rest of the therapeutic instruments, pharmacological or not, is housed. Each type of doctor-patient relationship implies a different relationship with pharmacological treatment; but also, the doctor-drug approach style imposes a doctor-patient relationship. This article reflects on:

1) Doctor himself as a drug;

2) The context that the doctor creates is itself also a drug;

3) The fact of prescribing pharmacological treatments changes the patient’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors;

4) The complexity/simplicity of the pharmacological regimen;

5) The special doctor-patient relationship in the repeated prescriptions;

6) The doctor-family relationship and companions and caregivers in pharmacological treatment;

7) The characteristics of the patients; and

8) The types and phases of diseases.

Keywords: Physician-patient communication; Adherence; Pharmaceutical treatment; Therapeutic alliance; Inappropriate prescribing, General practice; Framework; Decision making; Therapeutic adherence; Physician-patient relations; Sanitary attention