Whitehead, K;
Stone, J;
Norman, P;
Sharpe, M;
Reuber, M;
(2015)
Differences in relatives' and patients' illness perceptions in functional neurological symptom disorders compared with neurological diseases.
Epilepsy & Behavior
, 42
pp. 159-164.
10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.10.031.
Preview |
Text
Whitehead_manuscript 23rd October 2014.pdf - Accepted Version Download (466kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Objective: The illness perceptions of the relatives of patients with functional neurological symptom disorders (FNSDs) and their relation to the illness perceptions of the patients have been little studied. We aimed to compare illness perceptions of relatives of patients with FNSDs with those held by patients themselves. We used control pairs with neurological diseases (NDs) to examine the specificity of the findings to FNSDs. Material and methods: Patients with FNSDs (functional limb weakness and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures) and patients with NDs causing limb weakness and epilepsy, as well as their relatives, completed adapted versions of the Illness Perception Questionnaire — Revised (IPQ-R). Results: We included 112 pairs of patients with FNSDs and their relatives and 60 pairs of patients with NDs and their relatives. Relatives of patients with FNSDs were more likely to endorse psychological explanations and, in particular, stress as causal factors than patients with FNSDs (p < .001). Relatives of patients with FNSDs were also more pessimistic about the expected duration of the disorder and perceived a greater emotional impact compared with patients themselves (p < .001). However, the latter two differences between patients and relatives were also found in pairs of patients with NDs and their relatives. Conclusion: The main difference in illness perceptions between relatives and patients that appeared specific to FNSDs was a tendency for relatives to see psychological factors as more relevant compared with patients. Some other differences were observed between pairs of patients with FNSDs and their relatives, but the same differences were also seen in pairs of patients with NDs and their relatives. These other differences were, therefore, not specific to FNSDs. Discussion about possibly relevant psychological factors with patients suffering from FNSDs may be helped by including relatives.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Differences in relatives' and patients' illness perceptions in functional neurological symptom disorders compared with neurological diseases |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.10.031 |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.10.031 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, Functional weakness, Conversion disorder, Epilepsy, Illness perception, Neurology |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Neuro, Physiology and Pharmacology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10040374 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
