Magda's Self-Regulatory Model Of Illness Beliefs

Magda’s case study provides symptoms of depression. Magda was feeling depressed recently. Some of her friends and colleagues noticed her mood had changed. Magda also noticed her own interest in the things that used to bring her joy do not anymore and she experiences anxiety whenever she commits to social activities. The case study informs us that Magda is form a country where the medical profession does not recognize depression. There is stigma around seeking mental support. This paper will discuss using the self-regulatory model of illness beliefs, the potential illness beliefs and the help-seeking behavior of Magda. The potential impact on Magda’s sick role from both the socio-cultural context and the illness beliefs of the medical

(2012) article titled “A qualitative study exploring experiences of discrimination associated with mental-health problems in Ireland,” which was assigned for us to read this week. The article states “stigma is internalized and may shape behavior.” Stigma remains a fundamental barrier to effective and efficient community treatment or recovery oriented policies for mental health. Illness beliefs, mental health, experience of stigma and dissatisfaction with the quality of life among people with mental illness, shapes behavior. Madga’s help seeking behavior will be challenging since she is from a country where the medical profession does not recognize depression and there is stigma around seeking mental support. Help seeking is associated with two factors which are; symptoms of the illness and signs which indicate there is a problem. Due to stigmatism around seeking mental support at Magda’s country, Madga might have to seek help at a neighboring country where the medical profession does recognize depression. Help seeking can be understood in a number of thresholds that need to be reached. The thresholds such as; is it a symptom, is it normal or abnormal, do I need help and could a doctor help can be comprehended in relations to symptom perception, illness beliefs as well as the costs and benefits of going to the doctor. Magda’s anxiety can make her symptoms worse and she knows that her own interest in the things that used to

The variability in health professionals’ behavior can be realized in terms of processes involved in clinical decisions. If Magda seeks professional help to treat her depression in a neighboring country, the health professionals may: develop different hypothesis, access different information about her symptoms, access different attributes either to confirm or to contest their hypothesis, have differing degrees of a bias towards confirmation and therefore, reach different management decisions. Moreover, health professional’s beliefs can influence the original hypothesis as follows: health professional’s own beliefs about the nature (biomedical or psychosocial factors) of clinical problems, the health professional’s estimate of the probability of the hypothesis and disease, seriousness and traceability of the disease, personal knowledge of the patient as well as the health professional’s stereotypes which reflect the process of cognitive economy and limiting the time meeting between patient and health professional. Coping strategies have to relate to both the illness belief and the emotional state of the individual. There might be negative emotions generated when visiting the doctor such as embarrassment or a feeling of being a nuisance to a doctor who is already very busy. Magda may experience negative emotions