Emotional Responses to Chronic Illness

Question 1

Which two things are people who are diagnosed with a chronic/life-threatening illness more likely to suffer from?

Answer 1

Depression and anxiety

Question 2

What is an anxiety disorder?

Answer 2

A normal reaction to stress which has become excessive, experienced as intense dread or uneasiness. Likely to occur at various stages during illness.

Question 3

Give some symptoms of depression due to another medical condition.

Answer 3

Depressed mood and irritable, decreased interest in activities, weight change, sleep change, activity change, fatigue, guilt, indecisiveness, suicidality

Question 4

True or false - co-morbid depression does not affect risk of mortality?

Answer 4

False - it does. It also adversely affects other illness outcomes.

Question 5

Give some barriers to recognising psychological problems in patients.

Answer 5

Symptoms may be inadvertently missed, patients my not disclose symptoms, HCPs may avoid asking.

Question 6

Is it important to be aware of the possibility of psychological problems?

Answer 6

Yes