Perception of illness among patients with alcoholic liver disease

A sample of patients (N = 134) with alcoholic liver disease was found to be significantly "health internal" (i.e., believe that their behavior plays a major role in determining subsequent health or illness) compared with a sample of patients with nonalcoholic liver disease on Health Locus of Control Scale. The patients with alcoholic liver disease did not differ significantly from those with nonalcoholic liver disease in the level of awareness of severity of their disease. Most patients in both groups agreed with their physician's ratings of the severity of their illness. The implications of these findings are discussed.