Measures patients' cognitive and emotional representations of their illness using 8 single-item numerical rating scales and one open-ended causal question. Each item taps a distinct illness perception dimension from Leventhal's Common Sense Model: Consequences (how much the illness affects life), Timeline (how long the illness will last), Personal Control (how much the patient can control symptoms), Treatment Control (how much the treatment helps), Identity (how many symptoms attributed to the illness), Concern (level of concern about the illness), Understanding (how well the patient understands the illness), and Emotional Response (how much the illness affects emotionally). Illness perceptions are among the strongest psychological predictors of health behaviour, treatment adherence, recovery, and quality of life across all chronic conditions.
Single-item numerical rating scales (0–10) for 8 dimensions; one open-ended question
Eight subscale scores (each 0–10); no total recommended. Freely available from Keith Petrie (University of Auckland). Higher Consequences, Timeline, Concern, and Emotional Response scores combined with low Personal Control and Understanding represent the most maladaptive illness perception profile — associated with poor adherence, delayed recovery, and lower quality of life. Widely used in research on cancer, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes, chronic pain, and COVID-19 recovery.
Broadbent, E., Petrie, K.J., Main, J., & Weinman, J. (2006). The brief illness perception questionnaire. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60(6), 631–637.
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