title: Denial: a conceptual analysis.
abstract: The term denial is used in nursing to describe a client's behavior. A random sample of 18 articles published in English from 1990 to 1999 was identified for conceptual analysis using Rogers' methodology. The 2 main definitions identified ranged from an adaptive to maladaptive coping process. Anxiety or perceived threats evolving from situational or maturational crises were antecedents. Events that followed typically resulted in either positive or negative outcomes. Related concepts used most often were avoidance, unrealistic hopefulness, and repression.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Urbana 61801, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D009626:Terminology as Topic