Health, illness and disability Psychosocial approaches

Many of the diseases people suffer from today are chronic and degenerative (e.g. cardiovascular disease, adult-onset diabetes or HIV/AIDS), and bring with them a range of psychological and social issues. Health care practitioners do not cure these diseases, but take care of their patients by helping them understand and live with their conditions. Health, illness and disability: psychosocial approaches addresses the need for health care practitioners to be as skilled in working with and supporting people as in applying the assessment, therapy and/or treatment techniques for which they have been trained.