Chronicization as possible result of the relationship between services and users.

Abstract

Through the account of two clinical experiences, the paper proposes a critical analysis of the concept of chronicity as individual dimension, within a healthcare services praxis based on changing the other according to given models of “normalcy” as main goal of intervention. The term chronicization is considered better than the term chronicity because it underlines a process linked to relationship rather than to disease. This intervention framework allowed a therapeutic relationship, not exclusively oriented to intervene on chronicity, with regard to the clinical cases presented. The use of psychological clinical criteria and models focused on relationship allowed to better understand the complexity of these demands, pursuing objective that seemed to be precluded.