Illness Attitudes Questionnaire – IAQ

If medication doesn't take away a symptom then I must have a serious illness.

If I experience an unexpected physical symptom I must be ill.

If I can't control anxiety perfectly I am a failure.

Bodily changes are always a sign that something is wrong.

Anxiety can kill.

If I don't worry about my health, something will go wrong.

Doctors often miss serious illnesses.

Detailed tests are the only way to really rule out an illness.

There is only so much anxiety my heart can take.

The commonest cause of feeling unwell is serious illness.

If the doctor sends me for any tests, he is convinced that there is something wrong.

If your symptoms come and go, a test can only be accurate if done when the symptoms are present.

Having symptoms means I am weak, defective, flawed or inferior.

Real symptoms can be produced by anxiety.

If I don't keep a careful watch on my health something terrible will happen.

There is only so much anxiety that my mind can take.

It is possible to know, with absolute certainty, that you are not ill.

If I am not perfectly calm I am in danger of losing control.

Once anxiety starts to build up you can't stop it getting worse.

I or my doctor must be able to find an explanation for any physical symptom.

If you don't control your thoughts you might go mad.

Both sides of the body should be identical.

Parts of my body are weak.

My family is prone to illness.

If I let myself think that I am well, I will tempt fate.

I am more likely than most people to get an illness.

Cancer is curable.

I deserve to get ill.

I have no control over my health.

I must look after my health or I will be a burden to my family.