Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - An investigation of models of illness in carers of schizophrenia patients using the Illness Perception Questionnaire
AU - Barrowclough, C
AU - Lobban, F
AU - Hatton, C
AU - Quinn, J
PY - 2001/11
Y1 - 2001/11
N2 - Background. Although carers' reactions to schizophrenic illness in a close family member may have important implications for the patient and for themselves, little is known of factors that influence the way carers. respond. In the area of physical health problems, people's models of their illness or illness representations have been found to be related to the ways they react and cope with their illness. This study examines the use of a modified form of the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) to investigate illness models in a sample of carets of schizophrenia patients.Methods. Forty-seven carets participated. The psychometric properties of the modified IPQ were examined, and a number of carer and patient outcomes were investigated in relation to carer scores on the illness identity, consequences, control-cure and timeline subscales of the modified IPQ. These outcomes included measures of carer distress and burden, expressed emotion dimensions, and patient functioning.Results. The modified IPQ was found to be a reliable measure of carers' perceptions of schizophrenia. Carer functioning, the patient-carer relationship and patient illness characteristics were associated with different dimensions of illness perceptions.Conclusions. The findings support the proposal that carer cognitive representations of the illness may have important implications for both carer and patient outcomes in schizophrenia.
AB - Background. Although carers' reactions to schizophrenic illness in a close family member may have important implications for the patient and for themselves, little is known of factors that influence the way carers. respond. In the area of physical health problems, people's models of their illness or illness representations have been found to be related to the ways they react and cope with their illness. This study examines the use of a modified form of the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) to investigate illness models in a sample of carets of schizophrenia patients.Methods. Forty-seven carets participated. The psychometric properties of the modified IPQ were examined, and a number of carer and patient outcomes were investigated in relation to carer scores on the illness identity, consequences, control-cure and timeline subscales of the modified IPQ. These outcomes included measures of carer distress and burden, expressed emotion dimensions, and patient functioning.Results. The modified IPQ was found to be a reliable measure of carers' perceptions of schizophrenia. Carer functioning, the patient-carer relationship and patient illness characteristics were associated with different dimensions of illness perceptions.Conclusions. The findings support the proposal that carer cognitive representations of the illness may have important implications for both carer and patient outcomes in schizophrenia.
KW - EXPRESSED EMOTION
KW - FAMILY MEMBERS
KW - RELATIVES
KW - ATTRIBUTIONS
KW - ADJUSTMENT
KW - DISTRESS
KW - SERVICE
KW - RELAPSE
KW - PEOPLE
KW - SCALES
U2 - 10.1348/014466501163869
DO - 10.1348/014466501163869
M3 - Journal article
VL - 40
SP - 371
EP - 385
JO - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
JF - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
SN - 0144-6657
IS - 4
ER -