Encountering Treatment Resistance: Solutions Through Reconceptualization

Recent studies suggest that anywhere from 20% to as much as 60% of psychiatric diagnoses are eventually labeled as treatment resistant. No consensus exists on a definition for treatment resistance, nor are there clear criteria for what is still an unrecognized diagnosis, which suggests that incomplete assessments, inadequate treatment planning, poor compliance, and faulty therapeutic alliances may be at play. Given that second opinions identify additional treatment options in two-thirds of these cases, Encountering Treatment Resistance argues that it is time to move away from treatment resistance and toward pending remission. The author addresses opportunities for practitioners to avoid treatment resistance and failure through the following

• Discussion of the processes underlying conceptualization and how inaccurate or misleading concepts may be developed

• Description of best practices for problem-solving and the consequences for relying on less-effective methods

• Outline of methods to ensure that clinicians consistently conduct a thorough evaluation at each patient contact

• Highlights of common but underappreciated medical causes of treatment failure and examples of impaired therapeutic alliances interfering with diagnosis, treatment selection, and compliance