Developing interventions for chronically ill patients: Is coping a helpful concept?
Section snippets
Theoretical framework
Chronic illness confronts a patient with numerous threats and challenges which may include the need to preserve a reasonable emotional balance and a satisfactory self-image, the need to maintain a sense of competence and mastery, the need to sustain relationships with family and friends, and preparation for an uncertain future (Moos & Schaefer, 1984). Diagnostic uncertainties, disability, dependency, social stigma, life-style changes, and other self-management tasks have also been identified as
Selection of studies
Our original intention was to include only studies that address coping explicitly as either an outcome variable (interventions aimed at improving coping) or as a mediating variable (interventions aimed at improving well-being or quality of life via coping). In addition, the interventions had to be evaluated using a controlled design. Our belief was that only studies that meet these criteria allow us to properly evaluate the possibilities and limitations associated with translating coping theory
Results
One of the goals of the present study was to determine which aspects of the coping process (e.g., coping strategies, coping styles, appraisal, coping resources) appear to be most relevant for interventions. Which aspects of coping appear to be amenable to interventions and which aspects have the most impact on outcome measures? As stated earlier, there is only one review of interventions aimed at coping with chronic illness (Devins & Binik, 1996). In this survey, the traditional headings of
Discussion
Our review shows a coping approach to offer a promising framework for the development of psychosocial care programs for chronically ill patients. The unique contribution of a coping perspective lies in its emphasis on the ongoing adaptive process that confronts patients with a chronic disease. However, in order to capitalize on that potential an effort should be made to study more systematically and more explicitly how coping can be improved by using particular (mostly, cognitive-behavioral)
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, section Medical Studies. The authors wish to thank Henk-Jan Conradi for his help in preparing the data for this study. They also wish to express their gratitude to the participants, most notably Susan Folkman, in the workshop on “Developing and evaluating interventions aimed at coping and social support of chronically ill patients” (organized in Utrecht, The Netherlands, October 1996) for sharing
References (74)
- et al.
The effectiveness of psychological interventions for the rehabilitation of low back painA randomized controlled trial evaluation
Pain
(1992) - et al.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a German self-help organization
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
(1991) - et al.
Efficacy of multidisciplinary pain treatment centersA meta-analytic review
Pain
(1992) - et al.
Improving self-care among older patients with type II diabetesThe ‘Sixty Something …’ Study
Patient Education and Counseling
(1992) Coping-based intervention strategies
Patient Education and Counseling
(1995)- et al.
Pain coping skills training in the management of osteoarthritic knee pain—IIFollow-up results
Behavior Therapy
(1990) - et al.
The effect of behavior therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Behaviour Research and Therapy
(1995) - et al.
Effects on quality of life with comprehensive rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction
The American Journal of Cardiology
(1991) - et al.
Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease? The Lifestyle Heart Style
Lancet
(1990) - et al.
Differential treatment responses of TMD patients as a function of psychological characteristics
Pain
(1995)
Integration of coping and social support perspectiveImplications for the study of chronic diseases
Clinical Psychology Review
Cognitive-behavior therapy in the management of chronic, occupational pain of the upper limbs
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Cognitive-behavior therapy in the management of chronic, occupational pain of the upper limbsA 2 year follow-up
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Can psychotherapy prolong cancer survival?
Psychosomatics
Effects of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer
Lancet
Neglected topics in the treatment of chronic pain patients—relapse, noncompliance, and adherence enhancement
Pain
Effects of intraoral appliance and biofeedback/stress management alone and in combination in treating pain and depression in patients with temporomandibular disorders
The Journal of Prostethic Dentistry
Life-style modification for weight control to improve diabetes health status
Patient Education and Counseling
A controlled trial of two forms of self-management education for adults with asthma
The American Journal of Medicine
Psychological interventions for cancer patients to enhance quality of life
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
A behavioral medicine intervention as an adjunctive treatment for HIV-related illness
Psychology and Health
A randomized trial to improve self-management practices of adults with asthma
Archives of Internal Medicine
Evaluation of an asthma self-management education program
Journal of Asthma
Personality and copingA reconceptualization
What is wrong with coping assessment? A review of conceptual and methodological issues
Psychology and Health
Coping, social support and chronic diseaseA research agenda
Psychology
Adaptive tasks, coping and quality of life of chronically ill patientsThe cases of Parkinson's disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Journal of Health Psychology
Facilitating coping with chronic physical illness
Patterns of coping with cancer
Health Psychology
Coping with cancer during the first year after diagnosisAssessment and intervention
Cancer
Cognitive interventions in behavioral medicine
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
Multidimensional assessment of copingA critical evaluation
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
A structured psychiatric intervention for cancer patientsI. Changes over time in methods of coping and affective disturbance
Archives of General Psychiatry
Malignant melanomaEffects of an early structured psychiatric intervention, coping, and affective state on recurrence and survival 6 years later
Archives of General Psychiatry
A structured psychiatric intervention for cancer patientsII. Changes over time in immunologic measures
Archives of General Psychiatry
Comparison of the efficacy of electromyographic biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and conservative medical interventions in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Cited by (154)
Coping, social support, and anxiety in people with mast cell disorders
2021, Annals of Allergy, Asthma and ImmunologyThe evidence base for psychological interventions for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of reviews
2018, International Journal of Nursing StudiesAn empirical study on the effect of a driving companion bot on anger coping behaviors
2023, Behaviour and Information TechnologyAnxiety and Depression in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
2022, Medicina (Lithuania)