Management of chronic illness in children and adolescents often is a multifaceted challenge that requires the attention and expertise of individuals from a variety of disciplines that include psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine. The aim of this book is to provide readers with a practical overview of the definitions, characteristics, theories and models, diagnostic and treatment indications, and relevant aspects and methods of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for chronic illness in children and adolescents.

Acknowledgments; 1 Description; 1.1 Terminology; 1.2 Definition; 1.3 Epidemiology: Incidence and Prevalence; 1.4 Course and Prognosis: Asthma * Cancer * Cystic Fibrosis * Diabetes Mellitus * Sickle Cell Disease; 1.5 Differential Diagnosis; 1.6 Comorbidities: Asthma * Cancer * Cystic Fibrosis * Diabetes Mellitus * Sickle Cell Disease; 1.7 Diagnostic Procedures and Documentation; 2 Theories and Models of the Disorder; 2.1 Risk Factors: Disease and Disability Parameters * Genetic Disorders * Intrauterine Growth Retardation, Prematurity, and Low Birth Weight * Teratogens * Disease Severity * Functional Independence * Psychosocial Stressors; 2.2 Resistance Factors: Intrapersonal Factors; 2.3 Social-Ecological Factors: Family Functioning * Financial Resources * Stress Processing; 2.4 Applying the Models to Sickle Cell Disease; 3 Diagnosis and Treatment Indications; 3.1 Caregiver and Child Interviews; 3.2 Behavior; 3.3 Cognition; 3.4 Affect; 3.5 Adherence; 3.6 Stress and Coping; 3.7 Quality of Life; 3.8 Family Variables; 3.9 Summary; 4 Treatment; 4.1 Methods of Treatment: Behavior Therapy * Cognitive-Behavior Therapy * Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions - Empirical Support and Clinical Trials * Psychological Adjustment * Psychosocial Factors, Coping, and Pain Management * Adherence * Family Systems Interventions * Parent Training * Group Therapy * Peer Group Interventions * Peer Support Groups * Electronic Peer Support Groups * Self-Regulatory Skill Training, Self-Management, and Psychoeducational Strategies; 4.2 Mechanisms of Action; 4.3 Efficacy and Prognosis; 4.4 Variations and Combinations of Methods; 4.5 Problems in Carrying out the Treatment: Individual Barriers * Family Barriers * Provider Barriers * System and Setting-Based Barriers; 4.6 Multicultural Issues; 4.7 Summary; 5 Case Vignette; 6 Further Reading; 7 References; 8 Appendix: Tools and Resources.