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What
is illness self-management?
While there is no single agreed upon definition of illness
self-management, most definitions converge on describing it
as intervention designed to help consumers better manage their
psychiatric illness. Using a broad definition such as this,
most psychiatric rehabilitation approaches could be conceptualized
as illness self-management. Many people prefer to define it
more narrowly to refer to it as the management of the psychopathology
of the disorder (symptoms, relapses, re-hospitalizations),
but not necessarily all the associated impairments (work,
social relationships), which then invokes the field of psychiatric
rehabilitation. Note, however, that that management of a psychiatric
illness requires attention to social relationships (e.g.,
supports), involvement in meaningful activity, etc., so that
effective illness self-management requires focusing on more
than symptoms.
What
does illness self-management involve?
The research literature on illness management identifies four
different treatment components that were supported by the
evidence:
1)
psychoeducation about psychiatric illness and its management,
which has been found to improve knowledge of the illness,
but not to influence its course;
2) behavioral tailoring to address medication non-adherence,
which involves helping people fit taking medication into
their daily routines, and has been found to improve medication
adherence;
3) developing relapse prevention plans, which has been found
to reduce relapses; and
4) teaching coping strategies for dealing with persistent
symptoms, which has been found to reduce symptom severity
and distress.
These
four treatment components are included in the illness management
& recovery implementation kit (or toolkit), developed
as part of the SAMHSA-sponsored
evidence-based practices project.
Does
illness self-management help with symptoms? Improved outcomes?
What are the positive effects of illness self-management?
Based on the research, the positive effects include reduced
symptom severity and distress, and reduced relapses and re-hospitalizations.
The illness management and recovery intervention teaches illness
management skills in the context of helping consumers articulate
and pursue personal recovery goals.
For more in-depth information about mental illness, treatments
and supports, and medications;
please choose from the following topics:
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Illness | What is Mental Illness?
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