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Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Questionnaire

Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Questionnaire Test

Understand a patient’s views on illness and treatment in just 5 minutes. 22 quick items help clinicians spot motivation, doubts, and readiness to engage, guiding a more personalized plan.

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Questions: 225 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

24,344 views

1,707 completions

1,535 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

7/42

Other Motivation (OM)

Assesses types of motivation and attitudes toward illness and treatment that are not directly tied to conscious treatment goals or secondary gain, including passivity.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 14: Low | 15 – 28: Moderate | 29 – 42: High

A score of 7 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively few signs of other/passive motivation patterns affecting the person’s attitude toward illness and treatment.

example score

9/36

Secondary Gain (SG)

Measures the extent to which a person may be motivated by benefits of being ill, such as attention, care, or relief from responsibilities.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 12: Low | 13 – 24: Moderate | 25 – 36: High

A score of 9 falls in the Low range, suggesting limited motivation related to gaining benefits from the illness.

example score

9/18

Symptom Improvement Orientation (SIO)

Measures the extent to which a person prioritizes eliminating symptoms as the main goal of treatment.

Balanced focus

Symptom-focused

Strongly symptom-focused

0 – 6: Balanced focus | 7 – 12: Symptom-focused | 13 – 18: Strongly symptom-focused

A score of 9 falls in the Symptom-focused range, suggesting treatment goals are centered on symptom reduction more than on broader recovery factors.

example score

10/18

Behavior Change (BC)

Assesses readiness and motivation to change behaviors related to the illness and to actively engage in treatment.

Low readiness

Moderate readiness

High readiness

0 – 6: Low readiness | 7 – 12: Moderate readiness | 13 – 18: High readiness

A score of 10 indicates moderate readiness, suggesting some motivation to change and engage in treatment, with room to strengthen commitment and follow-through.

example score

11/18

Insight Development (ID)

Measures how well a person recognizes their illness and understands the need for treatment.

Limited insight

Developing insight

Strong insight

0 – 6: Limited insight | 7 – 12: Developing insight | 13 – 18: Strong insight

A score of 11 indicates developing insight, suggesting partial awareness of the problem and a generally emerging understanding of the need for treatment.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Newly admitted patients

41%OF USERS

People just starting inpatient psychiatric care who want to clarify how they view their illness and what they expect from treatment.

Skeptical or ambivalent patients

34%OF USERS

Patients who feel unsure about medication or therapy and want to understand their doubts and readiness to cooperate.

Clinicians and care teams

25%OF USERS

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses who use a quick check-in to tailor communication and improve treatment engagement.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

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AI-Powered
Interpretation

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Statistical
Comparison

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Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Different motivation (Dm)

Average

20.6

Normal range

13.5 — 27.8

min.

max.

Majority

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Secondary gain (Sg)

Average

23.7

Normal range

17.7 — 29.7

min.

max.

Majority

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Symptomatic improvement (Si)

Average

8.4

Normal range

5.8 — 10.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Behavior Change (BC)

Average

4.8

Normal range

1.5 — 8.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Achieving Insight (AI)

Average

13.3

Normal range

10.5 — 16.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses attitudes toward illness, treatment, and expected recovery. It also indicates willingness to participate in care.

When is it typically used?

It is commonly administered early in inpatient or outpatient evaluation. Results can guide topics for discussion and treatment planning.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion usually takes about 5 minutes. It includes 22 questions.

How should responses be completed?

Answer each item based on current views and expectations. Select the option that best matches the response without overthinking.

How are results used in care?

Scores help identify concerns such as doubts about medication, therapy, or the recovery process. Findings support more targeted communication and support.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Questionnaire for Studying Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Test

Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

compliance psychopathology

In inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings, understanding a patient’s beliefs about illness and care can inform early treatment planning. The Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Questionnaire is a brief self-report measure designed to assess attitudes, expectations, and perceived value of treatment.

Developed by Howard Leventhal, it includes 22 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Responses can help clinicians identify potential barriers to engagement (e.g., doubts about treatment usefulness), clarify misconceptions, and guide collaborative discussion. The Attitudes Toward Illness and Treatment Questionnaire is not a diagnostic instrument and should be interpreted in the context of clinical interview, observed behavior, and other assessment data.

Author: Howard Leventhal

Literature: Leventhal, H., Meyer, D., & Nerenz, D. The common sense representation of illness danger. In Rachman, S. (Ed.), Medical psychology. Pergamon Press. 1980.

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