Adapting to life with a chronic illness is difficult—rheumatic diseases can have profound effects on long-term quality of life. A patient's resilience to the challenges of chronic illness is determined by a number of factors that are increasingly understood, and which are outlined in this Review. The authors summarize developments in the psychological care of patients in clinical rheumatology practice, and describe novel approaches to optimizing this care.
- Andrea W. M. Evers
- Alex Zautra
- Kati Thieme
