Emotional Responses to Chronic Illness

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

Anxiety is a response to threat/threatening events e.g. threats to identity/wellbeing, surgery, test results

Question 2

In a patient, when could anxiety occur?

Answer 2

Likely to occur at various stages in illness e.g. diagnosis, awaiting test results, hospital discharge, illness progression

Question 3

How does anxiety manifest?

Answer 3

Anxiety is shown as significant and possibly intense dread or uneasiness and may take the form of:

• Panic attacks
• Obssessive-compulsive behaviour
• Generalised anxiety

Question 4

What is depression?

Answer 4

Depression is a long-term response to loss, failure or helplessness e.g. health, identity, side effects, reaction to symptoms

Question 5

Identify 5 manifestations of depression

Answer 5

• Depressed/irritable mood
• Decreased interest/pleasure in activities
• Change in sleep (insomnia/hypersomnia)
• Significant change in weight/appetite
• Fatigue or loss of energy

Question 6

What are the effects of co-morbid depression and why is this significant?

Answer 6

• Exacerbated distress associated with physical health problems
• Adversely affect illness outcomes and increase risk of mortality

Question 7

Identify and describe 3 barriers of recognising psychological problems in patients

Answer 7

• Symptoms may be inadvertently missed; attributed to illness or treatment
• Patients may not disclose symptoms; desire to avoid stigma, feeling judged or a burden, or seen as failing to cope
• HCPs may avoid asking; perceived to be out with their role/expertise, capacity/time constraints