Chapter 1.

Introduction

Princeton University

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1.1 Can Cancer Patients Suffer from Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Medical illnesses are of interest to clinical psychologists on two fronts. First, stress can worsen or help produce medical problems. Second, according to DSM-5, people who overreact psychologically to somatic symptoms―even ones with clear medical causes―may qualify for a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder. This video focuses on the use of certain interventions to help cancer patients cope with the physical and psychological impact of their illness and of their chemotherapy. The video also features research on such interventions, including findings that cancer patients who receive the interventions tend to survive longer.

1.2 Check Your Understanding

1.3 Activity Completed!