PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN ARTHRITIS. PERSPECTIVES ON ADJUSTMENT AND MANAGEMENT

•Serves as a practical guide to help rheumatologists and behavioral medicine specialists understand the psychosocial factors affecting the arthritis patient
•Provides a synthesis of the vast research conducted on arthritis, setting the stage for better care
•Promotes a scholarly approach tailored specifically to arthritis populations

This book provides an integrative approach for the management and care of the arthritis patient. Many different psychological, social, and behavioral factors have been shown to affect the quality of life of arthritis patients beyond the effects of the disease and the response to medications and treatments. The book establishes a biopsychosocial framework for understanding the interplay between psychological and physical aspects of rheumatic disease and summarizes the research about the psychosocial aspects that affect patients with arthritis, including stress, social support, doctor-patient communication, and sleep patterns. It explores the practice of incorporating psychological and behavioral approaches in the rheumatology clinic in order to surmount the problems of access and enhance the quality of care, promotes a comprehensive perspective on the numerous issues affecting persons with arthritis, and provides clinical guidelines for management. Psychosocial Factors in Arthritis is a valuable resource for behavioral medicine researchers, behavioral clinicians, and a range of arthritis professionals, including rheumatologists, nurses, and other allied health service practitioners.

Author
Perry M. Nicassio, Ph.D. Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Table of contents (16 chapters)
1.The Importance of the Biopsychosocial Model for Understanding the Adjustment to Arthritis
2.Mechanisms of Arthritis Pain
3.Understanding and Enhancing Pain Coping in Patients with Arthritis Pain
4.Psychological Factors in Arthritis: Cause or Consequence?
5.Stress in Arthritis
6.Socioeconomic Disparities in Arthritis
7.The Heart of Clinical Relationships: Doctor–Patient Communication in Rheumatology
8.Resilience to Chronic Arthritis Pain Is Not About Stopping Pain That Will Not Stop: Development of a Dynamic Model of Effective Pain Adaptation
9.Sleep Disturbance in Rheumatic Disease
10.Disability, Limitations, and Function for People with Arthritis
11.Revisiting Unequal Treatment: Disparities in Access to and Quality of Care for Arthritis
12.Evaluation of Psychological Distress in the Rheumatology Clinic
13.Physical Activity and Psychosocial Aspects of Arthritis
14.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medical Approaches for Arthritis
15.Enhancing Clinical Practice with Community-Based Self-Management Support Programs
16.The Nature, Efficacy, and Future of Behavioral Treatments for Arthritis