ABSTRACT
Few would dispute that physical illness is an unpleasant experience. Not only does a person face the possibilityofphysicaldiscomfortanddisability,theuncertaintyandlifestyledisruptionthatsurrounds illnesshasapotentiallynegativeinfluenceonpatientqualityoflife.Ÿetotalityofthisnegativeinfluenceisreferredtoasillness-relatedpsychosocialdistress.Psychosocialdistressiscommonamongindividualsfacingillness(CohenandRodriguez1995,Sobel1995,Schraderetal.2004,Astinetal.2003, Cukoretal.2007,Hodgesetal.2009).Itisestimatedthatamongindividualsseekingmedicalattention, one-thirdofbodilysymptomsareartifactsofthisdistress(Sobel1995).Ÿischapterprovidesanoverviewofillness-relatedpsychosocialdistress,includingtheeffectsofdistressondiseaseoutcomes,the influenceofhealthstatusandsocialresourcesonlevelsofpsychosocialdistress,andtheeffectiveness ofpsychosocialintervention.Specificissuesrelatedtoresearchpertainingtopsychosocialdistressand healthcare conclude this chapter.
