Originally published in 1984, this book focuses, firstly, on how patients interpret and act in response to symptoms of illness; secondly on how social and psychological factors influence the treatment process; and thirdly, on certain kinds of illness where the psychosocial perspective is of particular importance to the providers of health care – for example, chronic or particularly disabling illnesses. It demonstrates how essential it is to bring an interdisciplinary perspective from the social and behavioural sciences to an understanding and interpretation of behaviour in relation to illness. It will be of central concern to all health professionals in training and in practice and to social scientists interested in health care.