Posttraumatic Stress in Physical Illness

Posttraumatic Stress in Physical Illness explores the development of posttraumatic stress reactions and other psychological symptoms in people suffering from physical illnesses. It looks at the differentiating factors in patients with illnesses such as myocardial infarction, cancer, HIV, vascular and neurological diseases, respiratory diseases and autoimmune diseases. Posttraumatic Stress in Physical Illness also analyses factors such as demographic and disease-related characteristics, previous trauma or PTSD due to previous trauma, subjective experience of the illness, personality traits and coping strategies of the individual that contribute to the severity, likelihood of distress, or PTSD symptoms associated with the illness. These symptoms are not only experienced by the patients themselves but are also significant for their family members or loved ones. Both understanding the symptoms or pathological features and exploring the development of posttraumatic growth in both patients and reatives play major roles in this book. As psychopathological and positive psychological responses to adversity can influence the formulation of psychological interventions, Posttraumatic Stress in Physical Illness provides essential guidance for those involved with the treatment and wellbeing of patients.

Professor Man Cheung Chung earned his BA in Psychology and Sociology (University of Guelph, Canada), his PhD in Psychology (University of Sheffield, UK) and his PhD in Philosophy (University of Durham, UK). He is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is also a Chartered Scientist and Psychologist. He has previously worked at University College London, the University of Birmingham, Wolverhampton University, the University of Sheffield, Plymouth University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently Professor of Psychology at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates.

- 1: Debates on posttraumatic stress disorder in physical illnesses - 2: Posttraumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular disease - 3: Posttraumatic stress disorder associated with cancer experiences - 4: Posttraumatic stress disorder and cancer: Secondary victims - 5: Posttraumatic growth after cancer - 6: Posttraumatic stress reactions associated with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - 7: Posttraumatic stress in vascular and neurological diseases - 8: Posttraumatic stress disorder and respiratory illnesses - 9: PTSD and Autoimmune Diseases - 10: A hypothesized model and theoretical issues related to PTSD in physical illnesses