a concept introduced by A. Luria (1874–1944) characterizing a patient’s representations of their illness. It constitutes a complex, multilevel formation including:
1) sensory level – a complex of painful sensations;
2) emotional level – experiences of the illness and its consequences;
3) intellectual level – knowledge about the illness and its realistic evaluation, understanding of causes and consequences;
4) motivational level – formation of a specific attitude toward the illness, lifestyle changes, and activation of activities aimed at recovery.
Knowledge of the internal picture of illness is important for forming treatment adherence and motivation for recovery. The term is characteristic of Russian psychology; the closest concept in Western psychology is illness representation.