This textbook is designed to provide aspiring health care professionals with an understanding of the psychosocial effects of illness on patients, and how to use that knowledge to effectively communicate with patients. The text covers the conceptual framework for the elements of the psychosocial perspective, including communication skills and self care guidelines; recognition and treatment of specific patient populations, including special management problems of treating patients with particularly challenging disorders; and ways in which complementary and alternative medicine, and social, political, and ethical issues affect the practice of health care. The authors have a combined 90+ years of experience in education and health care. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.