Coping with chronic illness

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543579.011

Coping with chronic illness

from Psychology, health and illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2014

Keith J. Petrie and

Edited by

John Weinman and

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.

Type: Chapter
Information: Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine , pp. 46 - 49

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543579.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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Coping with chronic illness

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