Psychosomatic Medicine Tips for Better Browsing
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wooley, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by Winget, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wooley, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by Winget, C.

Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 40, Issue 5 379-401, Copyright © 1978 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

A learning theory model of chronic illness behavior: theory, treatment, and research

SC Wooley, B Blackwell and C Winget

Over 300 patients have been treated on an inpatient psychosomatic service employing a learning model of chronic illness behavior. This model stresses social reinforcement and avoidance of occupational and social activities in the development of a syndrome characterized by somatic complaints and care-eliciting interpersonal behaviors. Preliminary studies showed that patients reinforced others for care-giving responses but showed improved tolerance of experimental pain and lower rates of drug use when care-taking responses were minimized and self-control encouraged. Treatment was designed to involve the patient in his own care, including behavior modification techniques to reduce symptomatology, social skills training, and family therapy. One-year follow-up shows that most patients achieve self-set goals, with generalization of beneficial treatment effects. Patients who return to an intact family show continuing decreases in somatic complaints and increases in achievement orientation. Treatment failures are characterized by lack of an intact family and return to the medical care system.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PsychosomaticsHome page
J. V. Campo and G. Fritz
A Management Model for Pediatric Somatization
Psychosomatics, December 1, 2001; 42(6): 467 - 476.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin Child Psychol PsychiatryHome page
M. J. Rotheram-Borus, D. A. Murphy, S. Miller, and B. H. Draimin
An Intervention for Adolescents whose Parents are Living with AIDS
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, April 1, 1997; 2(2): 201 - 219.
[Abstract]

Home page
 West J Nurs ResHome page
W. E. Whitehead, A. Morrison, M. D. Crowell, B. R. Heller, J. C. Robinson, C. Benjamin, S. Horn, and N. F. Woods
Development of a Scale to Measure Childhood Learning of Illness Behavior
West J Nurs Res, April 1, 1992; 14(2): 170 - 185.
[PDF]

Home page
 West J Nurs ResHome page
L. Rew and A. Loustau
Children with Asthma: The Relationship between Illness Behaviors and Health Locus of Control
West J Nurs Res, November 1, 1987; 9(4): 465 - 483.
[PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1978 by the American Psychosomatic Society