The World Health Organization describes the impact of disease on an individual in terms of:

• Impairment: any loss or abnormality of psychological or anatomical structure or function
• Disability (activity limitation): any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being
• Handicap (participation restriction): a disadvantage for an individual resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfilment of a role that is normal for that individual.

The patient’s own perception of limitation must be taken into account during assessment, as well as the impact of physical causes due to disease. Subjective and objective assessments must be made. Quality of life (QoL) involves physical and psychosocial factors. The aim of treatment is to reduce or cure physical and/or psychological disease and to reduce the impact of any impairment or disability on the individual. A variety of different standard questionnaires can be used to assess pain, disease impact and outcome (e.g. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS)).

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1. [...] has yet to be found. … effect also depends on the structure and function of the nervous …Health Nova: Your Ultimate Medical Portal Extent of disabilityImpairment: any loss or abnormality of psychological or anatomical structure or function … Leave a [...]

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