Abstract / Summary
Illness perception in mental health disorders can affect prognosis and well-being. According to the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, mental illness involves repetitive behavioral patterns that gradually change throughout the therapeutic process, during which progressing to stages of higher readiness to change is considered advantageous. The current study examined correlations between illness perception, readiness to change, quality of life, and the severity of depression and anxiety in hospitalized individuals with psychotic disorders or affective disorders. Data from 110 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (ICD-10: F20–29, F2* group) and 261 individuals with affective disorders (ICD-10: F30–39, F3* group) were analyzed. Illness perception, readiness to change, quality of life, and depression and anxiety symptom severity were assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the “Fragebogen zur Erfassung der Veränderungsbereitschaft” (Readiness for Change Questionnaire), the brief version of the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life assessment tool, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Various illness perception dimensions were associated with quality of life and depression scores in both groups, and with anxiety scores in the F3* group. The advantageous readiness to change stage of Action correlated with the Treatment Control and Coherence dimensions of illness perception in both groups. Regression analyses revealed that Physical Quality of Life and depression scores were the strongest predictors of several dimensions of illness perception. These findings underscore the importance of illness perception in mental health disorders. Understanding one’s illness and its treatment emerged as a significant aspect regarding advantageous stages of change across diagnostic groups. Physical quality of life and depressive symptoms should be addressed in the treatment of both psychotic and affective disorders.