Objective: To consider experiences of hate, which occur in clinical encounters.
Method: A review of the electronic and manual literatures.
Results: Hate has become diluted to a euphemism, the 'difficult patient'.
Conclusion: Retaining use of the word hate avoids overlooking subtle cues in the unfolding relationship.
Keywords: difficult patients; hate.
© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.