Treating Patients With Arthritis: The Impact of Individual, Couple, and Family Dynamics

Abstract

Arthritis is an increasingly common chronic medical condition that affects not only patients but their families. Because this condition has significant psychosocial impact, effective treatment requires an integration of psychosocial treatment—including individual, couples, and family counseling—with conventional medical treatment. Individual psychological dynamics as well as couple and family dynamics that influence the treatment process are described along with implications for family counseling. An illustrative case example is included.