Citation

Yanos PT, Roe D, Lysaker PH. Am. J. Psychiatr. Rehabil. 2010; 13(2): 73-93.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15487761003756860

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The impact of the experience and diagnosis of mental illness on one's identity has long been recognized; however, little is known about the impact of illness identity, which we define as the set of roles and attitudes that a person has developed in relation to his or her understanding of having a mental illness. The present article proposes a theoretically driven model of the impact of illness identity on the course and recovery from severe mental illness and reviews relevant research. We propose that accepting a definition of oneself as mentally ill and assuming that mental illness means incompetence and inadequacy impact hope and self-esteem, which further impact suicide risk, coping, social interaction, vocational functioning, and symptom severity. Evidence supports most of the predictions made by the model. Implications for psychiatric rehabilitation services are discussed. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

human; social interaction; suicide; identity; Recovery; Stigma; stigma; hope; disease severity; social isolation; review; mental disease; symptomatology; priority journal; disease course; coping behavior; Identity; self esteem; convalescence; vocational rehabilitation; psychosocial rehabilitation