Research studies exploring outcomes in people with Huntington's disease (HD) suggest that distress is common in this group. Nonetheless, there is little research investigating psychological factors which contribute to distress in people with HD. The present thesis therefore considers aspects relating to the psychological outcomes of anxiety and depression for people with HD, using the self-regulation model (SRM) as a biopsychosocial framework to develop understanding of the individuals' experience. Section one comprises a narrative review which advocates for the use of the SRM for this population and considers research studies in support of this argument. The review considers each of the illness perceptions in light of psychological distress and further explores the role of coping in this process. Moreover, suggestions are made in relation to further research which would enhance the applicability of the SRM for researchers and clinicians. In section two, a research paper reports the findings of a quantitative study which used hierarchical multiple regression to explore the relationship between the domains of the SRM and psychological distress in 87 adults with a diagnosis ofHD. The findings of this study indicate that illness perceptions relating to the SRM reflect distinct and meaningful constructs for people with a diagnosis of HD. Furthermore, the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability when adapted for HD. The findings are discussed in relation to existing research and clinical implications are proposed. Interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy and solution-focused interventions are considered as useful approaches for people with HD. Moreover, the current study provides further evidence for a collaborative approach to the treatment ofHD. The final section, section 3, contains a further discussion of the findings, as well as personal reflections and recommendations for future research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:586927 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Arran, Natalie |
| Publisher | Lancaster University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0015 seconds