Handbook of the Behavior and Psychology of Disease

Abstract

This comprehensive handbook covers the entire range of physical disorders and their interrelated psychological problems. Behavioral changes, altered psychology, and in some cases, severe psychiatric conditions are frequent manifestations of communicable and non-communicable disease. While diseases have predictable trajectories, their psychological co-morbidities do not. This unpredictability, and sometimes lack of understanding can have profound effects on the professional, the patient, and the larger family unit. Mental health related domains of quality-of-life measure also impact the disease process but are often overlooked. Critical information targeted to experts within specialized areas can fail to reach a wider group of more general practitioners. This is complicated by the fact that psychological conditions may prompt organic disease, or conversely, disease may set off psychological disorders. This reference work creates the linkage between the two areas in a manner that is accessible to both experts and non-experts alike.