Representations of control, coping strategies and subjective health in autoimmune diseases: RA, SLE and MS

Abstract

This study assessed the relation between patients’ perceived personal and treatment control, coping strategies, subjective psychological and physical health. Based on Leventhal’s model the contribution of individual representations to illness adjustment was examined in newly diagnosed patients with autoimmune diseases. 80 RA, 75 SLE, 50 MS patients were examined. Personal and treatment control were assessed with IPQ-R, anxiety and depression with HADS, physical functioning with RAND and coping with CHIP. Significant differences were found on personal, not on treatment control, with SLE patients reporting higher levels of perceived control over their illness, followed by MS and RA. SLE patients reported higher levels of anxiety and depression, compared to the other groups. Bootstrapped indirect effects analysis revealed coping strategies, like palliative coping and dreaming, to mediate the relationship between illness control and subjective health in all groups. Coping styles and action plans play an important role in illness adjustment and should be taken into account in formulating intervention protocols. This ongoing study intends to further evaluate how illness perceptions change and interact with disease course and severity in a longitudinal framework.