What is identified patient?

The term "identified patient" is often used in the field of psychotherapy to refer to a family member who has been singled out as the main person with the presenting problem or symptoms. In other words, the identified patient is the individual who is perceived as being the one who needs help or intervention within the family system.

Identified patients are typically the focus of treatment, as they are seen as the carrier of the family's dysfunction or issues. However, it is important to recognize that the identified patient may not necessarily be the root cause of the problems within the family system. Instead, they may be manifesting symptoms that are a result of underlying issues that exist within the family dynamic.

Therapists working with identified patients often aim to shift the focus away from the individual and towards understanding and addressing the larger family system. By doing so, they can help to uncover and address the dynamics and patterns that contribute to the identified patient's symptoms. This approach can lead to more effective and lasting changes within the family unit as a whole.