Evolving Concept Of Abnormal Illness Behavior & Clinical Implications
- Author:
Sujita Kumar Kar
;
Rajesh Kumar
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Illness Behavior;
Sick Role;
Abnormal Illness Behavior;
Somatoform Disorder;
Stress Related Disorders
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry
2015;16(2):1-9
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives: The concept of “Abnormal illness behavior (AIB)” has been evolved
to a greater extent in the last century. Henry Sigerist introduced the concept of
“illness behavior” in 1929. Mechanic & Volkart defined and further
conceptualized the impression on illness behavior. Talcott Parson had given the
concept of “Sick role,” and Issy Pilosky had familiarized the notion of
“abnormal illness behavior.” The main objective of this article is to review the
conceptual evolution on “abnormal illness behavior” and to analyze its current
clinical implications. Methods: Extensive search of literature was performed
regarding abnormal illness behavior, illness behavior and sick role in online web
searching sites like – Google Scholar, PubMed and individual journal sites as
well as google books. The literature was critically reviewed with personal inputs
from authors. Results: Abnormal illness behavior ranges from denial of illness in
one extreme to conscious amplification of symptoms on the other. Abnormal
illness behavior is noticed in various clinical conditions like stress-related
disorder, stress-related disorders, factitious disorder and malingering.
Conclusions: Identifying abnormal illness behavior can prevent unnecessary and
excessive utilization of medical aids for the same.
- Full text:P020150727373363503040.pdf
