Oa. Abiodun, THE ROLE OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN THE CAUSATION, COURSE AND OUTCOMEOF PHYSICAL DISORDERS - A REVIEW, East African medical journal, 71(1), 1994, pp. 55-59
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.