RESEARCH ADVANCES IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Chronic diseases represent one of the most pressing global health challenges, with increasing prevalence due to aging populations and lifestyle-related factors. In recent decades, clinical psychology has played a pivotal role in understanding and managing the psychological aspects of chronic illnesses. This paper aims to synthesize current research on the bidirectional relationship between psychological factors and chronic disease progression, emphasizing recent advances in theoretical models, empirical findings, and clinical interventions. Defensive functioning, alexithymia, and psychological flexibility emerge as crucial dimensions. A greater use of mature defense mechanisms appears to be linked to better psychosomatic well-being, while reliance on immature defenses is associated with increased anxiety-depressive symptoms and a more negative perception of health. Similarly, higher levels of alexithymia are connected to greater psychological distress and reduced interoceptive awareness. In contrast, psychological flexibility shows a protective role, promoting better mental health and adaptive functioning. These findings highlight the need to deepen our understanding of the psychological underpinnings of chronic illness, especially through approaches that account for individual differences in emotional regulation and coping. While existing research has offered promising directions, the field would benefit from longitudinal studies and the systematic inclusion of psychological variables in chronic care pathways. Integrating such perspectives may support more comprehensive and person-centered interventions, improving both clinical outcomes and patients’ subjective experiences.