Chronic Illness

Types Alzheimer’s disease Cancer Asthma Arthritis Diabetes HIV - AIDS

Impact on the family Parents –Shock, grief, anger –All emotional energy goes to the sick person –Little energy left for husband and rest of family Siblings –Sympathy and resentment Relationships change Identity as a family changes

Support groups Provide help for families

Alzheimer’s disease Increasing age = leading risk factor Symptoms –Memory loss –Paranoia –Sleep disturbances –Anger –Wandering off

Diabetes Lack of insulin to control blood sugar levels Type 1 = Insulin-dependent diabetes Type 2 = Non-insulin-dependent diabetes Gestational diabetes Can complicate pregnancy –Ends with childbirth

Diabetes Health psychology’s role can include: –Helping diabetics understand their illness –Understand the effects of stress on blood glucose metabolism –Understand how to manage diabetes –Researching and treating diabetes

Diabetes Health psychologists are most likely to help patients by –Improving their adherence to treatment regimen Checking blood sugar levels Insulin injections

HIV - Human Immunodeficiency virus Main risk groups in theU.S. –Gay men –Injection drug users

HIV - Risk factors Anal sex = highest risk factor –Homosexual & heterosexual sex Heterosexual sex –Women more at risk than men

HIV - Human Immunodeficiency virus Male-male sexual contact = –leading source of infection in U.S. Male-female sexual contact = –leading source worldwide – = fastest growth in U.S.

Symptoms of HIV / AIDS First weeks –Possibly no symptoms –Flu like symptoms Fever Sore throat Skin rash Headache Latency (asymptomatic) period –Longest period As long as 10 years or more

Psychologists’ role in the AIDS epidemic Helping to change behaviors –The major causes of infection are behavior related

Protecting yourself from AIDS Use condoms No anal sex Do not share needles