Psychology Responses to Injury & Illness

Psychology Responses to Injury & Illness

The Biopsychosocial Crisis thoery

The intrusiveness of the condition= the intrusiveness of the psychological symptoms and overall health.

Does it disrupt their roles and hence their sense of self?

Cognitive Behavioral The Triad – cognitive, affective and behavioral

Stress process models and coping theory

Lazarus & Folkman thory of coping and adaptation Illness or injury can be perceived as stressors leading to a

DYNAMIC and temporarily ONGOING process of cognitive appraisals, affecting emotional responses and leading to behavioral choices.

Primary perceptions affect secondary or subsequent appraisals of the resources avialable for the demands.

e.g. back pain

This leads to coping strategies IN order to adapt or adjust - recreate homeostasis The professional can make a difference (e.g. chronic fatigue

patient doing less to conserve energy) E.g. physical therapist (paul and rich)

Stress process models and coping theory

Immediate- unconscious, subconscious, instinct

Response – involves a cognitive appraisal, longer times

Adjustment

THE FOLLOWING PAGES IS IN YOUR TEXTBOOK.

Stress and Coping

Coping depends on the physical & mental resources, culture and personality.By successfully coping with something a

patient is able to better manage and have a more favorable response.

Lazarus’s model – transactional modelEmphasizes the appraisal process

Stress and Coping

Primary appraisal = perception of an event as being either mainly harmful or harmless.

Secondary appraisal = individual’s perception of their self efficacy in dealing with the potential stressor. Therefore, if a person views something

stressful and not having self efficacy in being able to handle it = full blown stress.

Stress and Coping

Eight identified coping strategies Escape avoidance

Avoid the problem by day dreaming, drinking, or workaholic Distancing

Humour, metaphors Positive reappraisal

Finding good in bad, reframing Self controlling

Keep feelings and controlled internally Seeking social support

Sharing problems instead of bottling. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Stress and Coping

Planful problem solvingStrategically find a way to plan their way out of a

problemAccepting responsibilty

When one is responsible or the case reduces a sense of victim mentality

ConfrontingDealing with the cause of the problem head on.

People tend to use more than one style

Stress and Coping

Certain strategies may make someone effective in dealing with certain stressors. However, those same strategies may much less

effective with other stressors. Certain strategies that are “higher order”

maybe comprised of a number of the previously mentioned.

For example, Intellectualisation Distanicng, positive reappraisal, confronting

Stress and Coping

Emotion focused Centered on the

emotional reaction Self control Escape avoidance Accepting

responsibility Distancing Seeking support

Ruminators

Problem focused Centered on dealing with

the problem Confronting Planful problem

solving Seeking support

Nonruminators

THE FOLLOWING PAGE IS IN YOUR TEXTBOOK.

Social Support & Family

Appraisal supportAppraisal support Enabled or encouraged to evaluate their own state

Emotional supportEmotional support Being loved, cared for, listened to, etc

Esteem supportEsteem support Feeling that your valued

Information supportInformation support Advice or information that can facilitate coping

Instrumental supportInstrumental support Practical behavioral or resource based assistance.

Stress and Coping

Berkman & Syme (1979)Classic study –followed thousands of peopleThose that had the most social support were

least likely to die during the nine years.Social support becomes like an opportunity to

charge the system of the person with more energy.

Self perception and grievingMalingering