Coping strategies and self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Michaela Holubova, Jan Prasko, Radovan Hruby, Klara Latalova, Dana Kamaradova, Marketa Marackova, Milos Slepecky, Terezia Gubova, Michaela Holubova, Jan Prasko, Radovan Hruby, Klara Latalova, Dana Kamaradova, Marketa Marackova, Milos Slepecky, Terezia Gubova

Abstract

Background: Maladaptive coping strategies may adversely disturb the overall functioning of people with mental disorders. Also, self-stigma is considered a maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that can affect many areas of patient life. It has a negative impact on self-image, and may lead to dysphoria, social isolation, reduced adherence, using of negative coping strategies, and lower quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between coping strategies and self-stigma among persons with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Subjects and methods: A total of 104 clinically stable outpatients with chronic schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. Patients were examined by psychiatrists with the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, and the Clinical Global Impression scale. Correlation and multiple-regression analyses were performed to discover contributing factors to self-stigma.

Results: Positive coping strategies were used by patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders to the same extent as in the healthy population. Negative coping strategies were overused by these patients. There were significant associations between self-stigma, severity of the disorder, and coping strategies in schizophrenia. The ability to use positive coping strategies was connected with lower self-stigma. Use of negative coping strategies predominantly increased the self-stigma of patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusion: This study revealed a significant association among self-stigma, severity of the disorder, and coping strategies in individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Thinking about coping strategies and self-stigma in practice may play a significant role in understanding people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, especially for mental health professionals.

Keywords: coping strategies; cross-sectional study; disorder severity; schizoaffective disorder; schizophrenia; self-stigma.

References

    1. Křivohlavý J, editor. Jak zvládat stres [How to cope with stress] Prague: Grada; 1994. Czech.
    1. Marquez-Arrico JE, Benaiges I, Adan A. Strategies to cope with treatment in substance use disorder male patients with and without schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res. 2015;228:752–759.
    1. Skinner EA, Edge K, Altman J, Sherwood H. Searching for the structure of coping: a review and critique of category systems for classifying ways of coping. Psychol Bull. 2003;129:216–269.
    1. Janke W, Erdmann G. SVF 78: Eine Kurzform des Stressverarbeitungs-fragebogen SVF 120 [A short form of stress management questionnaire SVF 120] Göttingen: Hogrefe Verlag für Psychologie; 2002. German.
    1. Strous RD, Ratner Y, Gibel A, Ponizovsky A, Ritsner M. Longitudinal assessment of coping abilities at exacerbation and stabilization in schizophrenia. Compr Psychiatry. 2005;46:167–175.
    1. MacAulay R, Cohen AC. Affecting coping: does neurocognition predict approach and avoidant coping strategies within schizophrenia spectrum disorders? Psychiatry Res. 2013;209:136–141.
    1. Nuechterlein KH, Dawson M, Gitlin M, et al. Developmental processes in schizophrenic disorders: longitudinal studies of vulnerability and stress. Schizophr Bull. 1992;18:387–425.
    1. Vaughan C, Leff J. The influence of family and social factors on the course of psychiatric illness: a comparison of schizophrenic and depressed neurotic patients. Br J Psychiatry. 1976;129:125–137.
    1. Phillips LJ, Francey SM, Edwards J, McMurray N. Strategies used by psychotic individuals to cope with life stress and symptoms of illness: a systematic review. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2009;22:371–410.
    1. Brenner K, St-Hilaire A, Liu A, Laplante DP, King S. Cortisol response and coping style predict the quality of life in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2011;128:23–29.
    1. Holubova M, Prasko J, Hruby R, et al. Coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:3041–3048.
    1. Sheshtawy EA. Coping with stress and quality of life in schizophrenic patients. Asian J Psychiatr. 2011;4:51–54.
    1. Cotton SM, McCann TV, Gleeson JF, Crisp K, Murphy BP, Lubman DI. Coping strategies in carers of young people with a first episode of psychosis. Schizophr Res. 2013;146:118–124.
    1. Zappia S, Montemagni C, Macrì A, Sandei L, Sigaudo M, Rocca P. Coping styles in schizophrenia: a study of clinical and functional variables as determinants of strategies to cope with stress. Riv Psichiatr. 2012;47:238–245. Italian.
    1. Ponizovsky AM, Finkelstein I, Poliakova I, Mostovoy D, Goldberg N, Rosca P. Interpersonal distances, coping strategies and psychopathology in patients with depression and schizophrenia. World J Psychiatry. 2013;3:74–84.
    1. Ritsner MS, Gibel A, Ponizovsky AM, Shinkarenko E, Ratner Y, Kurs R. Coping patterns as a valid presentation of the diversity of coping responses in schizophrenia patients. Psychiatry Res. 2006;144:139–152.
    1. Rückl S, Gentner NC, Büche L, et al. Coping with delusions in schizophrenia and affective disorder with psychotic symptoms: the relationship between coping strategies and dimensions of delusion. Psychopathology. 2015;48:11–17.
    1. Switaj P, Chrostek A, Grygiel P, Wciórka J, Anczewska M. Exploring factors associated with the psychosocial impact of stigma among people with schizophrenia or affective disorders. Community Ment Health J. 2016;52:370–378.
    1. Ocisková M, Praško J, Kamarádová D, et al. Self-stigma in psychiatric patients: standardization of the ISMI scale. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2014;35:624–632.
    1. Perlick DA, Rosenheck RA, Clarkin JF, et al. Stigma as a barrier to recovery: adverse effects of perceived stigma on social adaptation of persons diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. Psychiatr Serv. 2001;52:1627–1632.
    1. Yanos PT, Roe D, Markus K, Lysaker PH. Pathways between internalized stigma and outcomes related to recovery in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Psychiatr Serv. 2008;59:1437–1442.
    1. Brohan E, Slade M, Clement S, Thornicroft G. Experiences of mental illness stigma, prejudice and discrimination: a review of measures. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010;10:80.
    1. Kleim B, Vauth R, Adam G, Stieglitz R, Hayward P, Corrigan P. Perceived stigma predicts low self-efficacy and poor coping in schizophrenia. J Ment Health. 2008;17:482–491.
    1. Kroska A, Harkness S. Coping with the stigma of mental illness: empirically-grounded hypotheses from computer simulations. Soc Forces. 2011;89:1315–1339.
    1. Chronister J, Chou CC, Liao HY. The role of stigma coping and social support in mediating the effect of societal stigma on internalized stigma, mental health recovery, and quality of life among people with serious mental illness. J Community Psychol. 2013;41:582–600.
    1. World Health Organization . The ICD-10 classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research. Geneva: WHO; 1993.
    1. Svancara J, editor. Coping Strategies. Prague: Testcentrum; 2003.
    1. Ritsner M, Ben-Avi I, Ponizovsky A, Timinsky I, Bistrov E, Modai I. Quality of life and coping with schizophrenia symptoms. Qual Life Res. 2003;12:1–9.
    1. Ociskova M, Prasko J, Kamaradova D, et al. Self-stigma in psychiatric patients: standardization of the ISMI scale. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2014;35:624–632.
    1. Guy W. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. Rockville (MD): US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; 1976.
    1. World Medical Association . WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Ferney-Voltaire, France: WMA; 2013. [Accessed October 19, 2013]. .
    1. Jiang Y, Sun YF, Yang YB, et al. Gender differences in coping styles of Chinese military officers undergoing intensive training. Mil Psychol. 2013;25:124–135.
    1. Paulík K, editor. Psychologické Aspekty Zvládání Zátěže Muži a Ženami [Psychological Aspects of Coping between men and women] Ostrava: Ostravská Univerzita; 2012.

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores y Colaboradores

Condiciones médicas

Intervenciones de drogas

3
Suscribir