Perceptions of illness in individuals with anorexia nervosa: a comparison with lay men and women.
OBJECTIVE
The current study examined and compared perceptions of illness in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and lay men and women.


METHODS
Participants with AN (n = 95) completed the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). Lay participants (n = 80) completed a modified IPQ-R to elicit perceptions of AN.


RESULTS
Participants with AN viewed their illness as chronic and highly distressing, with strong negative consequences. They had fairly negative perceptions of illness controllability and curability, which contrasted with the more optimistic beliefs held by lay participants. Both groups implicated emotional and psychological causes.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of illness perceptions expressed by the AN sample is associated with poor mental health and functioning and may inform the treatment approach. Lay perceptions of AN differed in the conceptualization of AN as a "slimming disease" amenable to change. This discrepancy may contribute to the stigmatization of AN.
Holliday
Joanna
J
Eating Disorders Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom. j.holliday@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Wall
Emma
E
Treasure
Janet
J
Weinman
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011379:Prognosis; D012649:Self Concept