As a health psychologist, it is important to understand immediate responses to achronic disease diagnosis because:

• A. the way a patient responds will dictate future treatment outcomes.
• B. it is best to wait for treatment interventions until after the patient has adjusted to the chronic aspect of the diagnosis.
• C. a patient\s coping efforts may fail and lead to an increasingly negative attitude and worsening health.
• D. patients need to be left alone until they indicate a willingness to accept their diagnosis.