Chronic Childhood Disease: An Introduction to Psychological Theory and Research

The author draws extensively on the published research findings in child health psychology, and also on her own experience of working with paediatric medical and nursing staff. The emphasis throughout her book is on coping, and helping families to cope, with the stresses imposed by chronic childhood illness. Frequent hospital admissions, pain and its evaluation and control, adjustment and sources of support, communication, education and programmes for intervention, all of these topics are discussed sensitively and with authority.

1. Psychological perspectives in chronic childhood disease; 2. Admission to hospital; 3. The nature of pain; 4. Adjustment in the child with chronic disease; 5. Adjustment in the family; 6. Communication and education; 7. Intervention programmes; 8. Coping with chronic disease; 9. Future directions.