Death, Dying and Bereavement

Question 1

Name and outline the theory of adjustment.

Answer 1

Kubler-Ross’ theory of adjustment  
Denial 
Anger  
Bargaining  
Depression 
Acceptance

Question 2

State 5 factors that show lack of evidence for the stages in the theory of adjustment

Answer 2

Doesn’t account for variability in response
Places patients in a passive role
Fail to consider social, environmental or cultural factors
Focus on emotional responses + neglect cognitions + behaviour
Pathologise people who do not pass through these stages

Question 3

What are the 5 dimensions of Leventhal’s illness representations model? (self regulatory model)

Answer 3

Identity: labelling of the illness/symptoms
Cause
Consequences
Timeline: view on how long the problem will last
Curability/ Controlability: expectations

Question 4

What are the 3 stages of Leventhals self regulatory model?

Answer 4

Interpretation
Coping
Appraisal

Question 5

What is the psychological impact of living with a long term health condition?

Answer 5

1 LTC= 2-3X more likely to develop depression

>,3 LTC’s= 7X more likely to develop depression

Question 6

How does media influence the way in which people cope with a diagnosis?

Answer 6

Media creates narratives, which leads to patients having preconceptions about conditions

Question 7

State five myths about coping with loss as described by Wortman and Silver.

Answer 7

Distress or depression is inevitable
Distress is necessary, + failure to express distress is indicative of pathology
That its necessary to ‘work through’ loss
Recovery is expected
Resolution is expected