MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore - 560 029.
Indian J Psychiatry. 1993 Jan;35(1):22-6.
The coping strategies employed by thirty schizophrenics were examined in relation to their psychopathology. A total of 251 coping styles were identified in the patient group. The commonly used techniques were behavioral control, cognitive methods and socialization. These findings suggest that schizophrenic patients employ active methods to handle the distressing symptoms experienced by them. The coping patterns were then studied in relation to specific symptoms. Schizophrenics with predominant thought disorder utilized specific task oriented methods in addition to a wide variety of cognitive approaches; those with delusions minimized their socialization and shifted their attention away from distressing thoughts and patients with hallucinations employed distraction techniques and increased their socialization. In contrast, those with non-psychotic symptoms resorted to more direct help from outside. The common method employed by patients in relation to both psychotic and neurotic symptoms was one of indulgence, usually excessive coffee consumption or smoking. The findings are discussed in relation to their practical applications and suggestions for future studies are outlined.
对 30 名精神分裂症患者所采用的应对策略进行了研究，以探讨其与精神病理学的关系。在患者组中确定了 251 种应对方式。常用的技术包括行为控制、认知方法和社会化。这些发现表明，精神分裂症患者采用积极的方法来应对他们所经历的痛苦症状。然后，研究了应对模式与特定症状之间的关系。以思维障碍为主的精神分裂症患者除了采用各种认知方法外，还采用了特定的任务导向方法；有妄想的患者减少了社交活动，将注意力从困扰的想法上转移开；有幻觉的患者则采用分散注意力的技巧，并增加社交活动。相比之下，那些有非精神病症状的患者则更多地求助于外部的直接帮助。患者在处理精神病和神经症症状时常用的一种方法是放纵，通常是过度喝咖啡或吸烟。讨论了这些发现的实际应用，并提出了未来研究的建议。
