Psychology Of Serious Ilness Flashcards

1
Q

Illness brings changes

A

Identity - worker to patient
Location - home to hospital
Role - independent adult to passive dependant adult
Social support - isolation eg : co workers, family, friends
Future - previous certain plans may become uncertain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Problems associated with illness

A
  • Unpredicted - no preparations made
  • unclear info - don’t understand and feel stupid
  • Ambiguous meaning - even if message clear consequences may not be
  • Quick decisions - health decisions need to be made when person least able to think
  • limited experience - dont know what to do or how to cope
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cytokines

A

In common with other health problems MI results in release of cytokines
Psycho result in lethargy
The result is a decrease inactivity
This reduction in activity adaptive in acute illness but maladaptive when long-term.
Makes the activity of rehabilitation hard to motivate .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Adaptive tasks

A

+ preserving an emotional balance
+ preserving self image, competence, and mastery
+ sustaining relationships with family and friends
+ preparing for uncertain future.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Lazarus and Folkman : stress cycle

A

Primary appraisal - does situation require a coping response? ——> yes
——> secondary appraisal - Are resources available to cope? ——-> no ——->
STRESS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Coping

A

Divided into

  • problems focused coping - more effective
  • emotion focused coping

People use a combination of

By Lazarus and Folkman

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A crisis:

A
  • occurs when various coping strategies don’t work
  • Results in a state of despair and disorganisation
  • Tends to be self limiting
    = people tend to find their way out of a crisis
  • help maybe needed to resolve
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

emotional regulation

A
  • expression of negative motion is often adaptive
  • Expression of positive emotion: finding growth and meaning in illness is also adaptive
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Males tend to

A

Focus on practical problems and their solution and not address, emotional issues
Use humour to distance from problems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Females tend to

A

Want to express emotional response as an initial form of coping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Anxiety may be caused by

A

~ acute pain
~ Onset of serious illness
~ events in course of illness
~ uncertainty
~ collapse of denial
~ poor communication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Anxiety may result in

A
  • excess use of services
  • Hyper-vigilance
  • use of maladaptive behaviours - eg: smoking or drinking
  • Avoidance of adaptive behaviours
    - eg excersise for mI
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Depressive disorders are more common in those with physical illness than without

A

Depression and physical illness:
- severe forms of depression are relatively common
- poor outcomes in terms of physical and mental health
- increased incidence of morbidity and mortality

Depressed physically ill patients:
- undergo more investigations and treatments than non-depressed ‘- have worse function
- less likely to comply with treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

NICE - depression

A

Professional should bear in mind that
- the potential physical causes of depression
- depression may be caused my medication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

High risks for depression

A
  • previous history of depression
  • Significant physical illnesses causing disability
  • other mental health problems
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Event Vs process

A

Cancer is a process - gradual onset which may be unnoticed or denied
Process = number of difficult events - diagnosis - treatments - tests - results

Event - sudden - eg MI