ABSTRACT
This chapter considers all the patient's symptoms and all the information available to doctors and assesses the symptoms, signs and information given using this to choose the appropriate remedies for the problem, and offers extra information where available and appropriate. Denial is a primitive defence mechanism that enables individuals to cope with very distressing events or thoughts. 'Healthy denial' helps the person to adjust and become accustomed to a major loss before responding to the painful reality of the situation. 'Unhealthy denial' is a reaction that creates a barrier and prevents the person from adjusting to a new situation. 'No further attention denial' is doctors preferred term to describe those few patients who simply will not discuss their illness, but who attend all appointments and comply fully with all treatments. If denial is healthy, there may be no need for intervention, reinforcement or confrontation.
