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The fundamental integration of psychological factors into the management of physical disabilities is critical to successful healthcare delivery. This book explores the emotional, motivational and psychological factors associated with the rehabilitation and treatment of people with physical disabilities. In the past century there has been a major global shift in disease burden from the viral and bacterial killers of the early twentieth century, to chronic conditions of the twenty-first, namely coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. All these disease processes are greatly influenced by psychosocial factors that include behaviours, beliefs and relationships. Additionally, many of these conditions have age-related increases in their prevalence and will continue to grow as people are now living longer than ever before. The impact and consequences of these conditions stretch across all aspects of society, from the individual to their families, carers and communities. Demographic shifts have highlighted that fewer and fewer people will be available as service providers and carers (Kennedy and Llewelyn, 2006).
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