Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability

Writing for health care workers, Falvo (rehabilitation psychology and counseling, U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) updates medical material and continues to follow the medical model for this edition by grouping chronic illness and disability together and describing professional interventions. She describes what professionals can expect of those who are chronically ill and disabled (e.g. grief, fear and anxiety, anger, depression guilt, poor self-concept) as well as prescriptive practices and family adaptations. She details conditions in neurology, vision, hearing, psychiatry, and substance abuse and describes conditions in the blood and in the immune, endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, urinary, renal and musculoskeletal systems. She also addresses skin conditions, burns and cancers. Falvo closes with commentary on assistive devices and managed care. Her appendices include information on medical terminology, medical terms, diagnostic procedures, and functional limitations. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR