An investigation of the impact of illness perceptions (and the role of moderating factors) on treatment adherence, with clients diagnosed with psychosis

• Main Author: Shah, Prveen
• Published: University of Birmingham 2007
• Subjects: 155
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.485981

Psychosis is a highly prevalent mental health problem and has a high relapse rate following non-adherence. In the current study it was postulated that illness beliefs may be responsible for variation in adherence amongst clients diagnosed with psychosis in a forensic sample. Specifically. it was hypothesised that those who perceived their condition to be more controllable and more threatening would show more adherence to treatment; and that this relationship would be moderated by attitudes to treatment. mood. and apathy. 31 participants were recruited from two regional secure units. The measures used were the: Illness Perception Questionnaire for Schizophrenia; Drugs Attitude Inventory; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Self-report Quality of Life Measure for People with Schizophrenia; University of Rhode Island Change Assessment; Service Engagement Measure; Apathy Evaluation Scale; and the negative scale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. The findings provide some support for the hyptotheses. although there was no support for the possible influence of moderators on the relationship between illness perceptions and engagement. The findings of the current study. when combined with indications from other research. indicate the need to continue research into whether illness perceptions influence treatment outcome in psychosis.