Couple-oriented interventions for chronic illness: Where do we go from here?

There is emerging evidence that couple-oriented behavioral interventions (CIs) for chronic illness yield benefits for patients. However, conceptual and methodological advances are critical for strengthening the impact and evaluation of this treatment approach. First, it would be useful to develop CIs that work for multiple chronic conditions and are tailored to couples' needs, and that can be delivered in ways that help couples apply new skills to challenges that they encounter in daily life. Second, there is a need for studies that compare CIs to evidence-based, patient-oriented interventions, and that assess mechanisms in ways which improve our understanding of how intimate relationships affect illness management. Finally, new directions in research on marriage and health will yield findings that are important for the next generation of CIs.