THE ROLE OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN THE CAUSATION, COURSE AND OUTCOMEOF PHYSICAL DISORDERS - A REVIEW

Complex interactions occur between psychological and biological factor s in health and disease. Stressful life events have been shown to be i mportant in the initiation and exarcerbation of both infectious and no n-infectious diseases while personality factors may act to increase or reduce vulnerability to physical disorder. Some of the psychosocial c omplications of physical disorders include marital and financial diffi culties, personality changes, affective disturbances, memory impairmen t and intellectual deterioration. Psychotic reactions may occur in som e cases. These complications could worsen the overall outcome and incr ease family stress and burden. Psychosocial intervention techniques ma y be required in the management of psychosocial consequences of physic al disorders and for some physical illnesses uncomplicated by psycholo gical disorders (e.g. application of biofeedback and relaxation traini ng in the management of hypertension). It is thus important to pay mor e attention to the behavioural, psychological and social aspects of me dical care, particularly in developing countries where available resou rces are limited.