Sapochnik, Manuela; (2005) Illness perceptions and recovery style in schizophrenia. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The literature review focuses on the perceptions and beliefs that individuals with schizophrenia hold about their illness, and how these may relate to outcome. The literature regarding Illness Perception in general, and Recovery Style in particular, illustrates how Health Psychology-based models may be useful in terms of understanding illness behaviour. The review concludes that this may well be a fruitful area for the development of theory-driven interventions to improve individuals' quality of life after a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The empirical paper reports a cross-sectional study investigating whether Illness Perceptions and Recovery Style are related to impairment or quality of life in a sample with relatively chronic schizophrenia. The main findings were that a more Integrating Recovery Style was associated with better outcome in all domains and that Illness Perceptions of greater coherence of the illness experience, and less emotional distress were associated with both better quality of life and a more Integrating Recovery Style. The critical review addresses the main topics of the clinical, practical and scientific implications of the findings of the empirical paper and attempts to link the findings to related areas of research such as models of trauma and attachment, in order understand the meaning of the findings in the context of this particular illness.

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