Lingler Jennifer H, Terhorst Lauren, Schulz Richard, Gentry Amanda, Lopez Oscar
Department of Health and Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pennsylvania.
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Pennsylvania.
Gerontologist. 2016 Oct;56(5):886-95. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnv029. Epub 2015 Apr 15.
To characterize illness perceptions among persons with mild cognitive impairment (PWMCI) and their family care partners, and to examine whether PWMCI's and their family care partners' illness perceptions were associated with their own, as well as the other member of the dyad's, emotional reactions to MCI.
This cross-sectional study of PWMCI and their family care partners (n = 60 dyads) used patient and relative versions of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) to assess metacognitive and emotional features of illness perception in MCI along 5 dimensions of perceived: seriousness of potential consequences, personal controllability, timeline, fluctuation (cycling) of symptoms, and illness coherence (clear vs. confusing).
As compared to family members, PWMCI perceived MCI to be less potentially serious and to be more within their personal control, but dyads otherwise shared similar perceptions of MCI. Among PWMCI, perceived seriousness of the potential consequences of MCI was the only dimension to be significantly correlated with emotional distress. For family members, increased MCI-related emotional distress was significantly associated with perceptions of MCI as potentially serious, permanent, or confusing. A dyadic analysis using APIM showed that MCI-related emotional distress, in both PWMCI and family members, was linked to the PWMCI's perception of the seriousness of MCI.
MCI-related education and support should be tailored for both the PWMCI and family member audiences, while acknowledging interdependence of illness perceptions within family units. Tailored information and support will be critical in managing MCI going forward, as illness perceptions are likely key factors on which individuals will plan for the future or base medical decisions.
描述轻度认知障碍患者（PWMCI）及其家庭护理伙伴对疾病的认知，并检验PWMCI及其家庭护理伙伴对疾病的认知是否与他们自身以及二元组中另一方对轻度认知障碍（MCI）的情绪反应相关。
这项针对PWMCI及其家庭护理伙伴（n = 60个二元组）的横断面研究，使用了修订版疾病认知问卷（IPQ-R）的患者版和亲属版，从潜在后果的严重性、个人可控性、时间线、症状波动（周期性）以及疾病连贯性（清晰与混乱）这5个维度来评估MCI中疾病认知的元认知和情感特征。
与家庭成员相比，PWMCI认为MCI的潜在严重性较低且个人可控性更强，但二元组在其他方面对MCI的认知相似。在PWMCI中，MCI潜在后果的感知严重性是与情绪困扰显著相关的唯一维度。对于家庭成员来说，与MCI相关的情绪困扰增加与认为MCI具有潜在严重性、永久性或混乱的认知显著相关。使用二元组相互作用模型（APIM）的分析表明，PWMCI和家庭成员中与MCI相关的情绪困扰都与PWMCI对MCI严重性的认知有关。
针对PWMCI和家庭成员这两类受众，应量身定制与MCI相关的教育和支持，同时承认家庭单元内疾病认知的相互依存性。由于疾病认知可能是个体未来规划或医疗决策的关键因素，因此量身定制的信息和支持对于今后管理MCI至关重要。
