title: Stress and anxiety in the disabled patient.
abstract: This article focuses on patients' feelings of anxiety and fear and the relationship of these feelings to stress. A model is described that identifies four steps in the perception of environmental stress and the emotional responses to it. A second model describes the stages of responses to stress. Both models are applied to the patient experience, and suggestions are offered for basic facilitative physical therapist behaviors. A strong request is made for physical therapists to observe the affective behavior of patients, perceive it in the context of stress, and respond effectively.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6020.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013315:Stress, Psychological