Guidelines for dealing with 'fear syndrome'

Guidelines for dealing with 'fear syndrome'

* Identify why the patient has come for help. listen and decide the role anxiety plays in the presentation.
* Remember that 'malingeres' get mailgancies too.Carry out an unbiased thorough assesment. Further investigations may not be needed.
* Anxious patients make anxious doctors. Make your judgements independently, irrespective of how anxious the patient appears to be.
* Do not feed doubts by providing irrelevant information.
* Speak clearly so that the patient understands.
* Show awareness that anxiety and symptoms are part of any clinical problem.
* Give the patient a chance to ask questions after imparting information.
* Be sure that the  patient has understood. The presence of a less anxious relative maybe helpful in the SOPD.