Family-Oriented Primary Care pp 229-247 | Cite as
The Developmental Challenges of Chronic Illness
Abstract
Most families must face chronic illness in a family member at some time during the life cycle. Chronic illness is increasing in prevalence and has replaced acute illness as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States (1). Half of all people over age 65 and one fourth of those between ages 45 and 65 are limited in their activities by at least one chronic condition (2). As the elderly population grows, this burden of chronic illness increases, and families must play an even greater role in their care. (See Chapter 13 on caring for the elderly.) The experience of chronic illness affects families in profound ways, and how well the family adapts to chronic illness can influence the course of the illness (3). This chapter presents a comprehensive psychoeducational approach to working with families with chronic physical illness, to assess their needs and assist them in coping with illness. (Other chapters deal with family-oriented approach to chronic mental illness including depression, Chapter 17, and alcohol abuse, Chapter 18.)
Keywords
Multiple Sclerosis Anorexia Nervosa Chronic Illness Chronic Mental Illness Developmental ChallengePreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- 1.Dever GEA: Community Health Analysis: A Holistic Approach. Germantown, MD, Aspen, 1980.Google Scholar
- U.S. Department of Commerce: Statistical Abstracts of the United States (101s.d.1S.P.-25,N.802,888), Washington, DC, Government Printing Office, 1980.Google Scholar
- 3.Doherty WA, Campbell TL: Families and Health. Beverly Hills, CA, Sage Publications, 1988.Google Scholar
- 4.Steinglass P, Temple S, Lisman S, Reiss D: Coping with spinal cord injury: The family perspective. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1982; 4: 259–264.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 5.Sabbeth B, Leventhal JM: Marital adjustment to chronic childhood illness: A critique of the literature. Pediatrics 1984; 73: 762–768.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 6.Klein RF, Dean A, Bogdonaoff MD: The impact of illness on the spouse. J Chronic Dis 1967; 20: 241–248.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 7.Strong M: Mainstay: For the Well Spouse of the Chronically Ill. Boston, MA, Little, Brown and Co., 1988.Google Scholar
- 8.Gonzales S, Steinglass P, Reiss D: Family-centered interventions for people with chronic physical disabilities: The eight-session multiple family discussion group program. Washington, DC, Center for Family Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, George Washington University Medical Center, 1988.Google Scholar
- 9.Penn P: Coalitions and binding interactions in families with chronic illness. Fam Syst Med 1983; 1: 16–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 10.Rolland JS: Psychosocial typology of chronic and life threatening illness. Fam Syst Med 1984; 2: 245–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 11.Houlihan JP: Families caring for frail and demented elderly: A review of selected findings. Fam Syst Med 1987; 5: 344–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 12.Rolland JS: Chronic illness and the life cycle: A conceptual framework. Fam Proc 1987; 26: 203–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 13.Combrinck-Graham L: A developmental model for family systems. Fam Proc 1985; 24: 139–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 14.Minuchin S, Rosman BL, Baker L: Psychosomatic Families: Anorexia Nervosa in Context. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1978.Google Scholar
- 15.Houser S: Personal communication, Hilton Head, 1988.Google Scholar
- 16.Smilkstein G: The cycle of family function: A conceptual model for family medicine. J Fam Pract 1980; 11: 223–232.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 17.Rolland JS: Family illness paradigm: Evolution and significance. Fam Syst Med 1987; 5: 482–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 18.Anderson CM, Reiss DJ, Hogarty G: Schizophrenia and the Family. New York, Guilford Press, 1986.Google Scholar
- 19.Morisky DE, Levine DM, Green LW et al.: Five year blood pressure control and mortality following health education for hypertensive patients. Am J Public Health 1983 73 :153–162.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 20.Robach HB (ed.): Helping Patients and their Families Cope with Medical Problems. San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass, 1984.Google Scholar