Chapter 14 - life-threatening conditions: heart disease, stroke, cancer, and HIV/AIDS

what are the cognitive adjustments that people tend to make when trying to adapt to high-mortality illnesses

find meaning in illness experiences

gain a sense of control over their illnesses

restore self-esteem

what is heart disease

illnesses that result from the narrow and blocking of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood

in terms of age, who are more susceptible of getting heart disease

prevalence rate increases as age increases, especially older adults

in terms of gender, who are more susceptible of getting heart disease

men over women

what are the biological risk factors for heart disease

there are genes related to heart diseases that are heritable

what are the lifestyle risk factors for heart disease

stress

obesity

diabetes

being physically fit, normal weight, and not smoking → reduce chances of getting heart disease

what are the psychosocial risk factors for heart disease

high levels of negative emotions like anger, depression, or anxiety → more likely to develop heart disease

negative emotions have physiological effects that promote heart disease

stress increase the chance for blood to clot

high social support → less likely to get heart disease

how do people with heart attack cope with anxiety?

denial

what are some of the ways for rehabilitation of cardiac patients

lifestyle changes: exercise and stress management

CBT to enhance self-efficacy

dietary changes

what are the psychosocial impact of heart disease?

some people are not able to do certain types of work due to their heart disease as physically demanding jobs may cause heart attack

those with strong social support recover faster from heart disease

families determine how well one adjust to heart disease

high levels of anxiety and depression that tends to decline over time

what are the psychosocial interventions for heart disease

psychosocial counselling

stress management

CBT

what is a stroke

a condition where damage occurs in an area of the brain when the blood supply to that area is disrupted. depriving it of oxygen

in terms of age, who is more susceptible of a stroke

older adults

in terms of gender, who is more susceptible of a stroke

women

what are the lifestyle risk factors for stroke

cigarette smoking

diabetes

drug or alcohol abuse

what are the biological risk factors for stroke

family history of stroke

what are the psychosocial aspects of stroke

denial is commonly used to cope

stroke patients are prone to depression

stroke prevents patients from working

families struggle to adjust to a loved one having a stroke → increased stress and anxiety

family therapy and support groups help stroke patients and their families adapt

initial recovery lead to increased hope, but gradual decline in improvement → feeling of hopelessness and helplessness

what is cancer

disease of the cells characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation that usually forms a malignant neoplasm

what are some of the most prevalent cancer sites

skin cancer

lung cancer

prostate cancer

breast cancer

colorectal cancer

what does the prognosis of cancer depend on?

how early the cancer is detected and its location

in terms of age, who is more susceptible to cancer

risk increases as age increases

in terms of gender, who is more susceptible to cancer

males

describe the psychosocial impact of cancer

cancer creates unique stressors for patients and their families

fear of recurrence

high hopelessness, depression, and other psychosocial vulnerabilities → live shorter with cancer

comorbid conditions → worse adaptation to cancer

long-term cancer survivors have high rates of emotional distress

site of cancer will have different impacts psychosocially on people, like sexual dysfunction from some cancers

problems in relationships with family members and friends: low social support → adjustment problems

what are two reasons for why patients may withdraw from social contact

they feel socially awkward or embarrassed by their conditions

patients’ physical conditions and treatment interfer with seeing friends and family

people may begin to avoid the patient out of worry that they will say the wrong thing

what are the psychosocial interventions for cancer

present information about the prognosis and treatment options to patients, and how to manage the disease and difficulties

exercising help

psychosocial interventions to reduce nausea from chemotherapy

• relaxation

• systematic desensitization

problem solving training

tailored treatment

Cognitive-behavioural stress management

mindfulness-based stress reduction

family therapy

couples-focused treatment

what is systematic densensitization

Systematic desensitization replaces the fear response with a relaxation response, gradually breaking the link between the stimulus and the anxiety.

what should be the focus of psychosocial interventions in cancer

enhancing control and finding meaning and purpose in life

what are the psychosocial effects of having cancer on children and their families?

initial trauma is difficult but adjustment tends to improve over time

cognitive-behavioural interventions reduce parent’s emotional distress and help cope

children cope best with emotion-focused coping in early times of diagnosis

child cancer patients lag behind in academic performance compared to peers

what is Acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS

an infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is spread through the shared contact of blood and semen

what are the psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS

since AIDS is so dangerous without a cure, this makes people react extremely when someone who is decently close has AIDS

stigma in the LGBTQ+ community that gay people get AIDS

worry about embarrassment or rejection so hesitant to tell others about it

some societies have resisted acknowledgement of HIV/ADIS, allowing it to spread

stigma leads to people delay getting tested for HIV and getting care and avoid telling partners if they are infected

depression, hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety all become common as one tries to adjust to this disease

what is the best way to cope with HIV/AIDS

direct action

positive reappraisal

what are the psychosocial interventions for HIV/AIDS

present information to help reduce anxiety during and after getting the results

stress management intervention

aerobic exercise, relaxation training, and group meeting that have cognitive restructuring methods to modify maladaptive beliefs

CBT to reduce depression and improve medication adherence

what happens during the first few months of being diagnosed with a seriously life-threatening illness

optimism

switch from using avoidance coping to active problem-focused approaches

what is the main issue of concern for patients in the first few months of being diagnosed with a seriously life-threatening illness

mortality

During the first few months after diagnosis of a life‑threatening illness,

A. patients usually plan for the future with assurance.

B. more active approaches in coping begin to be utilized.

C. patients are usually pessimistic.

D. the use of avoidance coping grows stronger.

E. more avoidant approaches in coping are utilized.

B. more active approaches in coping begin to be utilized