Meeting the psychological needs of the physically ill.

The psychological health of physically ill people has received more attention from other healthcare professions than it has from nursing. Many patients with physical health conditions have high rates of psychological distress resulting in poorer quality of life, higher rates of consultations, a greater use of healthcare services and poor adherence to treatment. This article explores the issue in terms of policy, prevalence, patient presentation and practice implications. It argues that nurses have a pivotal role in addressing the issue and offers models of delivery that may be helpful in developing a strategy to overcome this inequality.