DOCTOR-DEPENDENT CHANGES IN COMPLAINT-RELATED COGNITIONS AND ANXIETY DURING MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS IN FUNCTIONAL ABDOMINAL COMPLAINTS

This study explored the changes in complaint-related cognitions and an xiety of 110 consecutive out-patients with functional abdominal compla ints (irritable bowel syndrome), during a series of consultations. Pat ients' anxiety, fear of cancer, somatic attribution concerning intesti nes or stomach and catastrophizing cognitions appeared to diminish sig nificantly during the consulting period. Positive changes in patients' psychological attribution and somatic attribution appeared to be rela ted to doctors' correct perceptions of these attributions. Catastrophi zing cognitions diminished significantly more when patients saw the sa me doctor throughout the consultations. As changes in attributions and catastrophizing cognitions appeared to be related to doctor-patient i nteraction, it is conceivable that doctors could learn to influence co gnitions even more.