Case studies and extensive session transcriptions further illustrate the process of treating chronic illness."--BOOK JACKET.

With the onset of chronic illness, an individual and family's world, previously taken for granted, is often undone. The actual and potential losses from illness impact on family, friends, physicians, therapists, nurses, and others in profound and unexpected ways. Through his own honest, personal account and the testimony of others, Robert Shuman takes us inside the illness experience to help us better grasp the daily inner lives of the ailing person and his or her family. As our aging population lives longer, chronic illness touches more and more of us. Whether as patient or parent, nurse or spouse, colleague or therapist, we need to have greater knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of chronic illness.Robert Shuman maps out the many dimensions of illness and invites the reader to explore its challenging terrain in a way that provides opportunities for self-discovery and reflection. In lyrical prose, he opens up new ways of thinking about the psychology of illness and healing. He suggests, for example, that illness symptoms can have a generative effect on a person's imaginative and creative possibilities, and that the socially despised events of illness and disability offer new ways of being once sought through the work of religion. Drawing on the fields of behavioral and family medicine, medical anthropology and sociology, moral and bioethical philosophies, and family, existential, cognitive, Jungian, and archetypal psychotherapies, among others, The Psychology of Chronic Illness raises provocative questions for the professional caregiver as well as for those living with illness and disability.This book will help anyone touched by illness, personally or professionally, to support those living with chronic illnesses and disabilities; to cope with multiple impacts on work, relationships, social roles, individual dreams, and disappointments; to listen to and voice suffering and fears, grief and anger, questions of values and moral doubts; and to acknowledge loss and mourning as a “common ground” that we all share. This book offerrs specific resources to the caregiver and aids the professional in his or her ethical obligation to give. Moreover, Shuman's voice is one of compassion, reminding us how to hold on to or recover hope, meaning, and morale during times of affliction and distress.

Annotation This is an accessible volume that offers practitioners straightforward guidelines for helping people adjust to lives drastically changed by chronic illness.

Many healthcare professionals are focusing their concerns on controlling symptoms and minimizing physical distress while failing to deal with the social and psychological factors related to living with long-term chronic illness. Ariela Royer makes an important contribution to the study of health and illness behavior by showing the various strategies chronically ill people use to manage their symptoms and overcome the consequences of their particular illness, so they can live the most normal life possible and maintain their self-esteem. In spite of a popular belief linking chronic illness mainly to aging, most chronic problems extend across the life span. One of every seven men and one of every eight women between the ages of 17 and 44 are limited in their major activity, their ability to work, keep house or go to school, because of a chronic condition. At ages 65 and over, nearly three-fifths of men and two-fifths of women are handicapped. Dr. Royer shows various strategies the chronically ill may use to live with the uncertainty inherent in chronic illness. She also discusses how one might try to overcome or to minimize the salient social consequences of chronic illness, such as stigma and social isolation, in order to get on with their lives.

Chronic childhood disease brings psychological challenges for families and carers as well as the children. Roger Bradford explores how they cope with these challenges, the psychological and social factors that influence outcomes and the ways in which the delivery of services can be improved to promote adjustment. Drawing on concepts from health psychology and family therapy, the author proposes a multi-level model of care which takes into account the child, the family and the wider care system and how they interrelate and influence each other.

Coping with Chronic Illness provides a unique approach to treating depressed clients with chronic illness. It includes innovative Life-Steps Module and teaches clients how to take good care of themselves despite their depression.

Chronic diseases have become predominant in Western societies and in many developing countries. They affect quality of life and daily activities and require regular medical care. This unique monograph will bring readers up to date with chronic disease research, with a focus on health-related quality of life and patient perception of the impact of the diseases and health intervention, as well as psychological adaptation to the disease. It considers the application of concepts and measures in medical and psychological clinical practice and in public health policies. Informed by theory, philosophy, history and empirical research, chapters will indicate how readers might advance their own thinking, learning, practice and research. The book is intended to be provocative and challenging to enhance discussion about theory as a key component of research and practice. Perceived Health and Adaptation in Chronic Disease will be of interest to researchers and academics alike. It boasts a wide range of contributions from leading international specialists from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. This has also allowed the book to provide readers with a multidisciplinary approach.

"As the population ages, physicians are turning to psychotherapists to help the increasing number of patients who are struggling with chronic illnesses. To provide effective and appropriate treatment to these patients requires that clinicians broaden their psychological perspective and augment their intervention strategies and treatment plans specific to chronic medical illness. Treatment of Chronic Medical Conditions: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Strategies and Integrative Treatment Protocols provides clinicians with focused cognitive- behavioral strategies and integrative treatment protocols for 10 of the most common chronic medical conditions that the psychotherapist is likely to encounter. These include arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiac disease, chronic pain, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome and lupus. The strategies and protocols tailored for these conditions are illustrated with extensive case studies and session transcriptions that make the treatment process tangible and results oriented. In addition, the book offers guidelines for dealing with such issues as illness denial, noncompliance, and challenges to life meaning that often stand in the way of patients leading full lives, despite their chronic illnesses"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

These children and families need psychological support to help them comply with doctors' orders and cope with issues such as restricted physical activity, frequent absences from school, and social problems.