Is There a Pattern of Psychological Reactions to Chronic Illness Which is Associated with Death

Abstract

In order to identify any pattern of psychological reactions to illness associated with later death, interview material from a sample of chronically ill people who died within months of being interviewed was compared with similar material from a sample of chronically ill people who did not die, as well as from a group of healthy people who did not die. The samples were matched for sex and age, and, where appropriate, for degree of disability and type of chronic illness. The comparisons were made by means of content analysis scales which were applied to a recorded segment of the interviews. A characteristic pattern of reactions among the chronically ill people who were later to die was established. This pattern included little uncertainty or directly expressed anger but much depression, guilt, and fear of bodily damage, together with many good feelings. In personal construct psychology terms, their construct systems were enabling them to anticipate what was happening to them more effectively than might have been expected.