Vollrath M, Angst J
Department of Social Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
J Nerv Ment Dis. 1993 May;181(5):303-8. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199305000-00005.
The present study investigated illness behavior and coping strategies among young adults with panic (N = 21), with other anxiety disorders (N = 27), and without anxiety disorders (controls; N = 296). The sample represented a cross-section of 29- to 30-year-old adults from the canton of Zurich in Switzerland. Coping was defined as the ways in which subjects react to life stress. Illness behavior was defined as use of medical care and substance consumption. Subjects with panic differed significantly from subjects with other anxiety disorders and controls in their coping strategies by seeking social support, using cognitive avoidance, and using rumination more frequently. Cognitive avoidance and rumination, however, are ineffective and maladaptive ways of dealing with stress. With respect to illness behavior, we found fewer differences. Subjects with panic had more psychiatric consultations and more days off from work than controls, but otherwise, they did not use medical care excessively. Also, their consumption of psychoactive substances was minimal, with the exception of tranquilizers. There was no indication of excessive use of nonpsychiatric medical care. The possible implications of these findings for psychotherapy and diagnostics are discussed.
本研究调查了患有惊恐障碍（N = 21）、其他焦虑症（N = 27）以及无焦虑症（对照组；N = 296）的年轻成年人的患病行为和应对策略。样本代表了来自瑞士苏黎世州29至30岁成年人的一个横断面。应对被定义为受试者对生活压力的反应方式。患病行为被定义为医疗保健的使用和物质消费。患有惊恐障碍的受试者在应对策略方面与患有其他焦虑症的受试者和对照组存在显著差异，他们更频繁地寻求社会支持、使用认知回避和进行沉思。然而，认知回避和沉思是应对压力的无效且适应不良的方式。在患病行为方面，我们发现差异较少。患有惊恐障碍的受试者比对照组有更多的精神科会诊和更多的工作日缺勤，但除此之外，他们并未过度使用医疗保健。此外，除了镇静剂外，他们的精神活性物质消费极少。没有迹象表明存在过度使用非精神科医疗保健的情况。讨论了这些发现对心理治疗和诊断的可能影响。
