Using transactional analysis in the consultation

Abstract

Using transactional analysis in the consultation T ransactional analysis (TA) is a model of psychotherapy developed by psychiatrist Eric Berne. Incorporation of TA into clinical practice can improve doctor-patient relationships, enhance outcomes and avert communication breakdowns. This paper aims to elucidate the concept of TA and its implementation in clinical practice. The GP curriculum and transactional analysisContextual statement 2.01: The GP consultation in practice lists the learning objectives for a GP to improve their consultation skills. It states that the consultation is at the heart of general practice and that the GP should:. Use the skills typically associated with good doctor-patient communication . Understand the process by which patients decide to consult, and how this can affect consulting outcomes . Understand that consultations have a clinical, a psychological and a social component, with the relevance of each component varying from consultation to consultation . Accept that patients may wish to approach health (and illness) in a non-scientific way. The reality for patients is that they make their own choices on the basis of their own values and not necessarily on the basis of clinical efficiency or resource implications

Understanding Alveolar echinococcosis patients’ psychosocial burden and coping strategies—A qualitative interview study

“…On the downside, patients are more likely to be misinformed, more anxious and subsequently require more time and attention during consultations [42][43][44]. In regard to the patient-physician relationship, the treating physician's empathy and sensitivity to patients' individual needs and circumstances have been shown to be important characteristics, especially when it comes to information transfer and communication [45]. These findings clearly illustrate that experts are fully aware of the prominent feelings of shame, AE patients experience.…”

Comparing general practice in Australia and in England: an Australian perspective and the RCGP International and Overseas Network

“…Explore the possibility of opening up patient choice, to allow co-payment for non-standard GP services; practice-based dermatology or fee-paying telephone consultations at the weekend with a named GP partner, for example. This might encourage a shift in attitudes towards the place of money and costs in health care, and our patients may arguably become, in transactional 19 terms, more empowered and equal partners rather than dependent recipients. The potential value of these ideas would have been lost to me, and may well have seemed disturbing, when all I knew was life as a GP in the NHS.…”

Crammer’s Corner

“…An Adult to Adult conversation (A->A) is ideal, however, patients present in different psychological states (Jones & Chawathey, 2014).…”

“…An Adult to Adult conversation (A—>A) is ideal, however, patients present in different psychological states (Jones & Chawathey, 2014). It is not uncommon for patients to start with a Child (C)—>Parent (P) transaction, for example a patient worried that her skin rash is caused by cancer.…”