[Secondary gain and the need to be ill]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Medical Sociology

Context:

• Sigmund Freud's theories on illness gain.
• Exploration of secondary gain and the need to be ill.
• Interdependence of conscious and unconscious illness gain.

Purpose:

• Examine how and why certain disorders generate illness gain.
• Investigate the increasing prevalence of specific conditions.
• Provide insights into the mechanisms of illness gain.

Summary:

• Empirical research investigates disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, repetitive strain injury, and whiplash injury.
• These conditions are prone to generating illness gain.
• The article details the reasons behind their rising incidence.

Impact:

• Highlights the importance of understanding illness gain for therapists.
• Informs therapeutic strategies to combat secondary gain.
• Contributes to managing conditions associated with illness gain.