Psychology of Medicine and Surgery: A Guide for Psychologists, Counsellors, Nurses and Doctors

This book provides a strong conceptual framework which unites contemporary knowledge with clinical contexts and problems. It should be useful to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and therapists who are involved in patient care or in supporting and training medical staff. In emergency and intensive care situations - and in the wider context of acute physical illness and surgery - the beliefs, emotions and behaviour of individuals, both lay people and health professionals, can have a profound effect on the processes of understanding, communication and coping throughout the course of diagnosis and treatment. There is a substantial body of psychological knowledge based on research and clinical experience which supports and guides best practice in this area. Clinical psychologists and counsellors increasingly work with doctors, nurses and medical therapists to implement psychological measures that increase the effectiveness - or mediate the ill effects - of medical treatment.This book provides a strong conceptual framework which unites contemporary knowledge with clinical contexts and problems. It should be useful to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and therapists who are involved in patient care or in supporting and training medical staff to deal with the psychological aspects of acute illness and surgery.