Issy Pilowsky
Encyclopedia
Issy Pilowsky, AM, MB, ChB, MD (Cape Town), DPM, FRANZCP, FRCPsych, FRACP, was Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide
from 1971 to 1997. He is known for the concept of abnormal illness behaviour, writings around pain and somatoform disorders. Doctors can find patients who express their symptoms in unusual ways problematic to manage and Pilowsky's work has proven useful in assisting medical practitioners and other in this difficult territory.
Pilowsky obtained a medical degree in South Africa
before developing an interest in the experience of pain when working under the well respected psychiatrist Erwin Stengel in Sheffield
, England. He later worked in universities in Sydney and Adelaide, Australia.
Pilowsky made a significant contribution to the medical literature through the development of the concept known as abnormal illness behaviour. When a person besomes unwell, they take on the sick role
as defined by Talcott Parsons
. Those who have accepted the sick role demonstrate that they are unwell through illness behaviour. Mechanic and Volkart had previously formulated the term illness behaviour. Certain individuals may manifest illness behaviour which is outside the range of that normally accepted by their society. Pilowsky had previously been struck by general hospital patients who were totally preoccupied by their pain or alternatively seemed almost completely oblivious to their plight. Accordingly abnormal illness behaviour may be illness denying or illness affirming, that is minimising or excessive relative to the prevailing norms.
Pilowsky developed the Ilnness Behaviour Questionnaire, a research instrument which can be used to measure the dimensions of abnormal illness behaviour.
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
from 1971 to 1997. He is known for the concept of abnormal illness behaviour, writings around pain and somatoform disorders. Doctors can find patients who express their symptoms in unusual ways problematic to manage and Pilowsky's work has proven useful in assisting medical practitioners and other in this difficult territory.
Pilowsky obtained a medical degree in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
before developing an interest in the experience of pain when working under the well respected psychiatrist Erwin Stengel in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England. He later worked in universities in Sydney and Adelaide, Australia.
Pilowsky made a significant contribution to the medical literature through the development of the concept known as abnormal illness behaviour. When a person besomes unwell, they take on the sick role
Sick role
Sick role is a term used in medical sociology concerning the social aspects of falling ill and the privileges and obligations that accompany it. It is a concept created by American sociologist Talcott Parsons in 1951.-Concept:...
as defined by Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons was an American sociologist who served on the faculty of Harvard University from 1927 to 1973....
. Those who have accepted the sick role demonstrate that they are unwell through illness behaviour. Mechanic and Volkart had previously formulated the term illness behaviour. Certain individuals may manifest illness behaviour which is outside the range of that normally accepted by their society. Pilowsky had previously been struck by general hospital patients who were totally preoccupied by their pain or alternatively seemed almost completely oblivious to their plight. Accordingly abnormal illness behaviour may be illness denying or illness affirming, that is minimising or excessive relative to the prevailing norms.
Pilowsky developed the Ilnness Behaviour Questionnaire, a research instrument which can be used to measure the dimensions of abnormal illness behaviour.