Luca, Maria and Eccles, Fiona and Perez Algorta, Guillermo (2024) Alexithymia and illness perceptions in persons with multiple sclerosis and their partners: : A preliminary study. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
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Abstract
Background: Illness perceptions encompass opinions regarding the nature, severity and curability of a disease, that can influence the adjustment to and management of chronic illnesses. Despite their importance, little is known about what may influence the formation of illness appraisals. Aims: My literature review aimed to synthesise and critically appraise quantitative evidence regarding the relationship between illness perceptions (among persons with multiple sclerosis and their caregivers) and outcome measures. My empirical study tested alexithymic traits as possibly associated with illness perceptions among persons with multiple sclerosis and their partners, as well as within the dyads composed of persons with multiple sclerosis and partners. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Twenty papers were selected, quality appraised and synthesized using a narrative approach. A crosssectional study was conducted on persons with multiple sclerosis and their partners, who completed a battery of questionnaires, including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (to assess alexithymic traits) and the Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised (to investigate the participants’ perceptions about multiple sclerosis). A dyadic data analysis (Actor-Partner Interdependence Model) was performed in order to test the effect of alexithymic traits both on a person’s own illness perceptions (actor effect) and on the partner’s illness perceptions (partner effect). Findings: The findings of my literature review indicate a link between negative illness perceptions (e.g. more severe consequences) and worse psychophysical outcomes (e.g. fatigue). The results of the empirical study indicate that alexithymic traits may be associated with some illness perceptions both at the individual and dyadic level, whereby higher alexithymic traits relate to more negative illness perceptions. Conclusion: My literature review highlights the clinical importance of illness perceptions. The findings of the cross-sectional research, reporting a relationship between alexithymia and more negative illness appraisals, may inform therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing alexithymic traits, which in turn may reduce negative, and potentially dysfunctional, illness perceptions. perceptions.