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Emotional dysfunction in schizophrenia spectrum psychosis: the role of illness perceptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2006

P. W. B. WATSON ,
P. A. GARETY ,
J. WEINMAN ,
G. DUNN ,
P. E. BEBBINGTON ,
D. FOWLER ,
D. FREEMAN  and
E. KUIPERS
P. W. B. WATSON
Affiliation:
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
P. A. GARETY
Affiliation:
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
J. WEINMAN
Affiliation:
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
G. DUNN
Affiliation:
School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester, UK
P. E. BEBBINGTON
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
D. FOWLER
Affiliation:
School of Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
D. FREEMAN
Affiliation:
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
E. KUIPERS
Affiliation:
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
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Abstract

Background. Assessing illness perceptions has been useful in a range of medical disorders. This study of people with a recent relapse of their psychosis examines the relationship between illness perception, their emotional responses and their attitudes to medication.

Method. One hundred patients diagnosed with a non-affective psychotic disorder were assessed within 3 months of relapse. Measures included insight, self-reported illness perceptions, medication adherence, depression, self-esteem and anxiety.

Results. Illness perceptions about psychosis explained 46, 36 and 34% of the variance in depression, anxiety and self-esteem respectively. However, self-reported medication adherence was more strongly associated with a measure of insight.

Conclusions. Negative illness perceptions in psychosis are clearly related to depression, anxiety and self-esteem. These in turn have been linked to symptom maintenance and recurrence. Clinical interventions that foster appraisals of recovery rather than of chronicity and severity may therefore improve emotional well-being in people with psychosis. It might be better to address adherence to medication through direct attempts at helping them understand their need for treatment.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 36 , Issue 6 , June 2006 , pp. 761 - 770
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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