Tag: illness representation

Assessing illness representations of chronic illness: explorations of their disease-specific nature

Abstract:

Elaborating on the five-dimensional structure of illness representation, as described in the self-regulation model of Leventhal (1980), the present study is aimed at identifying the relevance of this generic structure for two chronic illnesses: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Addison’s disease (AD).

Factor analyses showed the importance of the five dimensions identity, time-line, control/cure, cause, and consequences to differ according to the type of disease. That is, the items representing the five dimensions merged together for CFS patients and AD patients in a different manner and thereby produced different factor solutions for the two patient groups.

In CFS patients, a four-factor solution was identified with manageability, seriousness, personal responsibility, and external cause as the factors. In AD patients a four-factor solution was also identified but with seriousness, cause, chronicity, and controllability as the factors. The value of these findings for our understanding of the disease-specific nature of illness representation is discussed.

 

Source: Heijmans M, de Ridder D. Assessing illness representations of chronic illness: explorations of their disease-specific nature. J Behav Med. 1998 Oct;21(5):485-503. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9836133

 

Structure and Determinants of Illness Representations in Chronic Disease: A Comparison of Addison’s Disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

Although the clinical relevance of illness representations has been demonstrated in several studies, research on the structure and determinants of illness representations is rare. This article examines the illness representations of chronically ill patients, using a structured interview technique and taking chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Addison’s disease (AD) as examples.

Considerable differences were found between the group of CFS patients (n = 98) and the group of AD patients (n = 63) with regard to their ideas about the identity, time line, control/cure , and consequences of their illness. Despite these differences, the pattern of correlations among these four dimensions of illness representation was found to be similar for the two groups. Moreover, the strength of the correlations points to the coherent nature of illness representations. The relations between the illness representations, personal variables, and disease- related variables were also explored.

Regression analyses showed the dimensions of illness representation to be explained rather well by personal and disease-related variables. Disease-related variables were the most important predictors for the dimensions of identity and consequences; personal variables showed strong associations with time line and control/cure.

 

Source: Heijmans M, De Ridder D. Structure and Determinants of Illness Representations in Chronic Disease: A Comparison of Addison’s Disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J Health Psychol. 1998 Oct;3(4):523-37. Doi: 10.1177/135910539800300406. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22021411