This study investigates the narratives of one couple who lived through life-changing events following a cancer diagnosis. The narratives of the cancer survivor and her husband are explored as they struggle to cope with their situation, provide support for one another, and consider their changing personal identities. This research addresses the communication dilemmas that often occur when family...

Received November 28, 2007; accepted December 12, 2007. Drs. Tsao, Tummala, and Roberts are affiliated with the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis. Address correspondence to Carol I. Ping Tsao, M.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53295; [email protected] (e-mail)....

BACKGROUND Chronic illness in a family member can cause emotional distress throughout the family, and may impair the family's ability to support the patient. OBJECTIVES We compare the familial impact of mental illness to other common chronic conditions. We examine the impact of a person's chronic illness on the psychological health of all persons in his or her family and identify both individ...

The aim of this paper is to discuss how everyday life changes for the family in the event of chronic illness or disability. It changes physically due to loss of body function and socially due to time and other constraints related to treatment or lack of mobility. Equally important, there is a psychological impact due to the uncertainty of the future. The article will explore how family particip...