IMACC stands for the Integrative Model of Adjustment to Chronic Conditions and it is a theoretical process model based on biopsychosocial principles. The model is directly applicable to clinical practice and the evidence base for the model is continually under further development.
This page offers information on psychosocial adjustment in general and the IMACC in particular.
“I can’t recommend this enough. [The IMACC] has been invaluable to me in my work with individuals and groups with chronic pain. It has a wide variety of applications across different healthcare settings, patient populations and disciplines.”
(Highly Specialist Psychologist, Pain Management)
Psychosocial adjustment (or adjustment for short) is a normal psychological reaction to change whereby people adapt new situations by changing their behaviours, views or attitudes in order to return to a state of optimal function. Adjustment is relatively easy, when we adapt to changes we have chosen (e.g. moving house or getting married) and we are motivated to make the change. However, when things happen that we don’t want (e.g. illness, bereavement, redundancy), then it is more difficult to adapt. Adjustment to chronic conditions, or long-term conditions (LTCs), can be viewed from two perspectives, the state or level of adjustment and the process of adjustment.
This part of the website is still under development – please return over the coming weeks to discover more about IMACC.
In the meantime, take a look at the IMACC workshop materials.
A free workshop has been delivered to several clinical services and at conferences and an impact event at Teesside University. The links below contain the free workshop materials: