If any family member died of the condition, his or her age at death may also contribute heavily to the patient's fear of encountering the same fate. Even when the prognosis is grave, as in AIDS, a calm statement of the treatments planned to counteract and contain the disorder is of value to the anxious patient. False comfort is not recommended. It robs the physician of credibility and, therefore, the ability to reassure the patient as the illness progresses. When panic sets in, denial fails and people want to flee.
Panic is the most common reason for acutely sick patients to insist on signing out of the hospital.
Although it could mean the patient does not take his or her illness seriously enough, the threat to sign out should be considered a panic reaction. A gentle approach is essential. The same is true of your heart muscle if you give it a chance to repair itself. As the patient calms down, other questions aimed at decreasing fear can be asked. Family members should also be mobilized and informed.