Illness perception in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases

Abstract

Survival of patients with lymphoproliferative diseases increases. For effective treatment we should pay attention to a subjective understanding of the patients’ perception of the disease, which depends on the personality characteristics, emotional experiences and expectations of treatment. We used The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) for assess the illness perception in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM). We included 94 patients with a diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disease (chronic lymphocytic leukemia - 42 people, multiple myeloma - 52) into this study: 55 (58.51%) men and 39 (41/49%) women. The average age of patients was 63,37 ± 9,96 years. The mean scores of the points of the BIPQ were as follows: Consequences – 7,28 ± 2, 88 ; Timeline – 7,52 ± 2,99; Personal control – 6,79 ± 3,12; Treatment control – 7,64 ± 2,40; Identity – 7,54 ± 2,87; Concern – 7,45 ± 2, 82 ; Understanding – 7,29 ± 2,81; Emotional response – 6,1 ± 3, 26. The results of all components of the questionnaire in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases were higher compared with breast cancer, diabetes, asthma patients. Illness perception according to the BIPQ was similar to those of patients with non-psychotic depressions. Overall threat level of the disease was high (57, 5 ± 11, 99). The most frequent causes of the disease according to the patients perception were: stress, work with harmful production, ecology, genetics. Patients with lymphoproliferative diseases showed high scores on BIPQ, this is probably due to the presence of depression in patients and requires further study.