Journal of psychosomatic research
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Comparative Study
Illness perceptions, mood and health-related quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
To divide amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in two clusters according to their illness representation, and to identify, between the two clusters, the differences in functional state, mood, and quality of life. ⋯ This study supports the Common Sense Model (CSM) of illness representation when considering ALS patients. Their psychological reactions to illness and quality of life depend not only on the severity of the illness but also on the way the illness is represented. Therefore, CSM could become the theoretical framework for psychological interventions in ALS patients.