Cognitive processing in coping with chronic organic diseases. The cognitive-constructivist perspective

Journal title QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA
Author/s Robert Aider Samolsky Dekel, Manuela Panico, Roberta Rossini, Silvio Lenzi
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/56
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 85-100 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/qpc56-2025oa21773
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The main aspect of dealing with an illness condition is the impact it has on the body: not only in terms of functionality, but also in terms of altering the experience of one’s own body (Grinfelde, 2018). The diagnosis of a disease and consequent physical and emotional suffering force the person to confront changes in themselves and in their lifestyle (Bottomley et al., 2022). This paper aims to illustrate, through the presentation of a clinical case, the work on autobiographical narratives in psychotherapy, how it fosters a new reading of the events of illness, towards better integration with the self, and how it promotes self-efficacy, enhancing problem-solving and coping with negative experiences (Lenzi et al., 2014). Central aspects of the cognitive processing methodology applied to coping with chronic organic diseases and related intervention strategies will also be illustrated (Lenzi, 2018).

Keywords: cognitive processing;cognitive-constructivist orientation;experiences of illness;embodiment

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Robert Aider Samolsky Dekel, Manuela Panico, Roberta Rossini, Silvio Lenzi, L’Elaborazione conoscitiva nel fronteggiamento delle malattie organiche croniche. La prospettiva cognitivo-costruttivista in "QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA" 56/2025, pp 85-100, DOI: 10.3280/qpc56-2025oa21773