ABSTRACT
FROM AN historical perspective, patterns of health and illness have undergone extensive change. In contrast to earlier centuries, people are, on average, living much longer and are afflicted by quite different types of illnesses. Whereas in earlier times people were likely to die of infectious diseases (e.g., smallpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, and influenza), today deaths are more commonly due to non-infectious and sometimes chronic degenerative illnesses, particularly heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The types and causes of “modern” illnesses have also been expanded with the advent of new viruses, toxic substances, and problematic life-styles. Because people are staying alive longer, they are giving considerable attention to disease prevention and health maintenance. Accompanying this emphasis has come the realization that psychological and socioenvironmental factors play vital roles in the creation and treatment of medical problems.
