Measuring Illness beliefs in neurodegenerative disease: why we need to be specific

Positive perceptions of illness are typically associated with good health outcomes. However, this may not be true for all domains of illness perception in neurodegenerative diseases because of their progressive incurable nature. The appropriateness of current measures of illness belief in these conditions is not known. The validity and reliability of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised was evaluated in 215 participants with Parkinson's disease. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the structure of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised with the exception of the treatment control domain. It is important to consider the nature of neurodegenerative diseases and limits of symptom control when planning interventions.