1. List some of the things that a patient with chronic illness may be able to control. List also some of the things he/she may not be able to directly control, and therefore may have to learn to accept.

Some things a patient with chronic illness can control are: diet, exercise, smoking cessation, compliance with the doctor’s recommendations.

Some things a patient with chronic illness cannot directly control: course of the illness, outcome of the illness, exacerbation of symptoms, incapacitation caused by the illness.

2. Enumerate a few situations in which chronic illness enforces reversal of customary gender roles.

3. Enumerate some of the abnormal forms of communication,whichmay replace normal and open communication in families going through chronic illness.

4. Mention some family developmental tasks at different stages of the family life cycle that may not be completed or may be delayed if a familymember has a chronic illness.

5. What will help you work with a patient who comes in with overwhelming feelings of self-pity and constantly asks the question “whyme?” in response to the chronic illness?

6. Describe some interventions you can use with a child with a chronic illness who is being teased and bullied by peers at school?

7. What is psychoeducation? Why is it particularly important for a family coping with a chronic illness?

8. Briefly describe the techniques of medical family therapy.

9. What are some specific family interventions that may be helpful in cases where the patient is a parent, child or partner?

10. Describe some issues that need special consideration in the case of patients with a terminal illness.

11. Compare and contrast the adaptation of a poor well-knit family with that of an affluent but dysfunctional family when faced with chronic illness.