IS SYMPTOM REMOVAL DANGEROUS

The question, "Is symptom removal dangerous?" cannot be answered without first emphasizing the crucial role of expectancy in the therapeutic atmosphere. If the therapist expects harm from symptom removal he can inadvertently convey his anxiety to a sensitive, pliant patient; the patient will them comply with the doctor''s signals by not only retaining the disabling symptoms, but also by developing additional reactive symptoms. Under these circumstances it is the ineptness of the therapist rather than the process of symptom removal per se which leads to negative results. Therapeutic nihilism can influence the patient in a direction that implements the doctor''s expectancy at the patient''s expense. A facile assumption of automatic danger due to symptom removal can deprive many patients of clinical relief.