Patients' performance anxiety and related aspects as factors in resistance to change.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to touch on some aspects of patients' potentially ambivalent attitude toward change in the early stages of treatment.

METHOD

A de-identified case study is used as a springboard for discussing these issues.

CONCLUSION

A range of factors can affect a person's confidence in, commitment to, and results from their treatment. Some of these include: the patient feeling that the nature of their problem--including any ambivalence to change--has been adequately understood; the clinician expressing reassurance or encouragement only after due consideration; the clinician and patient discussing their respective expectations at the outset so as to minimize any subsequent disenchantment; and recognizing the possible presence of a patient's performance anxiety around fearing he or she may fail to respond to treatment and disappoint not only him- or herself but others as well.