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In contrast with disease, which
has some statistical grounds, illness is the term given to a subjective feeling of
unwellness. This can occur in the presence or absence of any biological deviation (“disease”) and it is largely what determines whether of not people consult a
doctor and take medicines. It is complex, being influenced by a range of demographic and
more complex psychosocial components, including role embeddedness (how well integrated a
person is into his social group) and identity strength, social support, perceived control,
work status, perceived threats, demands and resources, and personality characteristics. Disease
may be what people have, but illness is what drives them to seek help, even when they may
not have a disease as such. In the biological model of disease, this cannot be
accommodated. In the systems model, illness is a flag for dysfunctioning at some level.
Many doctors when confronted with illness look for disease. When this is found the disease
is treated but the illness, which may or not be related to the disease, remains untreated.
If no disease is found, the doctor often scolds the patient and may even accuse him of
malingering or hypochondriasis, both of which are derogatory and morally judgmental terms. |
