The Possibilities of Psychological Rehabilitation of Patients with Primary Lymphedema

The article reflects the results of a decade of work by the author on psychological rehabilitation of children with primary lymphedema. The article analyzes the main psychological difficulties of children and adolescents with primary lymphedema related emotional experiences of patients regarding their appearance, which leads to difficulties in their social adaptation. The article outlines the direction of psychological rehabilitation: correction of the personal sphere, adaptation of the child in terms of disease (the formation of an adequate attitude to the disease, getting used to the peculiarities of life with lymphedema, decrease in emotional distress about the presence of chronic diseases, increasing of motivation for treatment), social adaptation, work with parents. In the second part of the article outlines the main forms of mutual cooperation of psychologists, physicians and nurses to implement a comprehensive approach in rehabilitation of children with lymphedema. This article presents examples from psychological practice carried out by the author during work with children with primary lymphedema.

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