This paper presents a brief description of the phenomenon of the problem patient, the response of the physician, and alternatives to the impass which frequently occurs in the problem patient-physician relationship. There may be great utility in viewing the problem-patient problem as a patient-physician relationship problem. If this is done, the physician may be able to re-examine his/her expectations of the helping role and choose an alternate mode of relating to the patient, to the benefit of both the patient and physician.
