[Man is not just a number].

Man is not just a number, but a unique blend of body, personality and social being. Everyone will become ill at some stage of his or her life, because nobody enjoys perfect health. To understand fully the nature of this illness, the doctor should be aware of (1) stress, and the ways in which a human being can respond to it; (ii) the concepts of incompetence and psychosocial life crises; (iii) the postulates of Halliday; and (iv) the importance of good communication with the patient.