Assay of Antianginal Agents—the Rapport Period

It is essentially in the initial stages of therapy that a good psychological relationship is established between physician and patient.¹This is termed the "rapport period." Establishment of a positive working relationship exerts a therapeutic influence in itself.² In the administration of any antianginal agent, its therapeutic effect is proportional to that of the personality of the physician and his own belief in the curative powers of the medicament, plus the suggestibility of the patient and the intensity of the patient's desire to be cured.³The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the rapport period in the assay of antianginal agents. Procedure As the symptom complex of angina pectoris is a completely subjective manifestation, assay of any antianginal agent is, in essence, a measurement of the decrease in frequency and severity of attacks of chest pain. This can be clearly illustrated on a