ABSTRACT
Gropper reports on the case of a 58 year old woman who proved uncooperative during outpatient assessment procedures. He astutely inferred that her uncooperativeness was attributable to diminished self-esteem and sense of helplessness. Perplexed by how to get the patient to return for the completion of assessment, Gropper came up with a brilliant idea; tell the patient that data from “brighter” patients are needed for a research project. This approach not only secured compliance, but it conveyed to the patient that the examiner had respect for her intelligence, and gave her the chance to help someone else.
