Perceived attributes of the terms client, patient, and typical person..

Helping professionals most commonly refer to seekers of counseling services as clients or as patients. However, little has been known of the implied meanings of each of those labels. 74 undergraduates compared, "client," "patient," and "typical person" using semantic differential-type scales and the Personal Attribute Inventory. Although "client" and "patient" were each evaluated more negatively than was "typical person," no significant differences were found between "client" and "patient." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)