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Coping with chronic illness

from Psychology, health and illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

Keith J. Petrie
Affiliation:
The University of Auckland
Lisa Reynolds
Affiliation:
The University of Auckland
Susan Ayers
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Andrew Baum
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Chris McManus
Affiliation:
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
Stanton Newman
Affiliation:
University College and Middlesex School of Medicine
Kenneth Wallston
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
John Weinman
Affiliation:
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's
Robert West
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

The increase in chronic illness

Chronic illness is now the predominant disease pattern in most developed countries. Advances in medicine have transformed many previously deadly infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and influenza into treatable conditions and some have disappeared almost completely. The resulting improved longevity of populations has meant a growth in the burden caused by chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Chronic illnesses often strike in middle- and older-age-groups and bring with them considerable difficulties in adjustment and coping which can severely compromise patients' quality of life. While chronic diseases do kill, most people diagnosed with a chronic illness will live for many years with their condition. Understanding and improving the process of coping with a chronic illness has become an important area of health care.

Adjustments required

The initial psychological adjustments following the diagnosis of a chronic disease generally involve issues related to a loss of function. Individuals at the stage of diagnosis confront the reality that their state of health and function of their body have changed, and are likely to remain impaired. The speed with which individuals confront this loss can be strongly influenced by the nature of the illness. With some chronic illnesses, such as heart disease which is diagnosed following a myocardial infarction, awareness of the presence of the disease is usually sudden. In other chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, the patient may be aware of their disease long before a formal diagnosis is made.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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