Illness perception in eating disorders and psychosocial adaptation.
OBJECTIVE
The current study is based on the framework of the Self-Regulatory Model of Illness (SRM). The aim of this work was to examine perception of illness in eating disorder (ED) patients and investigate whether illness perception is related to psychosocial adaptation in these patients.


METHODS
A total of 98 female ED patients completed the specific eating disorders Spanish version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and a range of adjustment variables including the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD).


RESULTS
ED patients reported a moderate number of physical symptoms, and perceived their illness as controllable, treatable, highly distressing, as a chronic condition and with serious consequences. Emotional representation was the most significant dimension related to emotional adjustment. Illness identity and cure dimensions were the most significant dimensions associated with psychosocial adaptation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that patients' illness perceptions are related to illness adaptation. Illness identity was associated with emotional and psychosocial adjustment, and having faith that treatment may control the illness was related to positive benefits for ED. These results suggest that a psychological intervention, which addresses patients' illness representations, may assist in their adjustment to ED.
Quiles Marcos
Yolanda
Y
Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Alicante, Spain. y.quiles@umh.es
Terol Cantero
Ma Carmen
MC
Romero Escobar
Cristina
C
Pagán Acosta
Gonzalo
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004194:Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013030:Spain