Contribution of stress and coping strategies to problematic Internet use in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

BackgroundA considerable proportion of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders do not take antipsychotic medication but seem to be functioning well. However, little is known about this group. To test the assumption that absence of medication is compensated for by more effective coping and increased social support, this study compared symptoms, functioning, coping strategies and social support in non-medicated and medicated individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.MethodIn all, 48 participants with a DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorder who were taking (n= 25) or not taking antipsychotic medication (n= 23) were included. Assessment consisted of self-ratings of symptoms, symptom-related distress and social support combined with a semi-structured interview that assessed general and social functioning, subjective evaluation of symptoms and coping strategies.ResultsSymptom severity and distress did not differ between the groups. However, the non-medicated participants had significantly higher levels of general functioning than medicated participants and a longer duration of being non-medicated was significantly associated with a higher level of general functioning. In contrast to the hypotheses, not taking medication was not associated with more effective coping strategies or with higher levels of social support. Medicated participants more frequently reported the use of professional help as a coping strategy.ConclusionsOur results corroborate previous studies finding improved functioning in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who do not take medication compared with those who take medication, but do not support the notion that this difference is explicable by better coping or higher levels of social support. Alternative explanations and avenues for research are discussed.

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Are self-stigma and coping strategies interrelated in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using the psychiatric medication? Cross-sectional study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.076 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S99-S100

Author(s):

M. Holubova ◽

J. Prasko ◽

R. Hruby ◽

K. Latalova ◽

M. Slepecky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Psychiatric Medication ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

High Positive Correlation ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Negative Coping ◽

Self Instruction ◽

And Coping

IntroductionSelf-stigma is the maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that can affect the patient's self-image, may lead to dysphoria, social isolation, reduced adherence and quality of life. Maladaptive coping strategies may adversely disturb the overall functioning of psychiatric patients.ObjectivesThinking about coping strategies and self-stigma in practice may play a significant role in understanding patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, especially for mental health professionals. Focus on coping strategies could be a useful concept in supportive and educational therapy to help patients in using more adaptive coping strategies and decrease their self-stigma.AimsThe aim of this study was to determine the relation between coping strategies and the self-stigma among outpatients with schizophrenia and related disorders.MethodsStress Coping Style Questionnaire (SVF-78), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) and severity of the disorder (measured by Clinical Global Impression objective and subjective form) were assessed.ResultsOne hundred and four patients suffering from schizophrenia (n = 67), schizoaffective disorder (n = 30), polymorphic psychotic disorder (n = 3), schizotypal disorder (n = 2) and delusional disorder (n = 2) were included in the study. The results showed that there was a high positive correlation between negative coping and self-stigma, and the negative correlation between positive strategies and the overall score of self-stigma. Stepwise regression analysis showed that negative coping (especially resignation), subjective severity SubjCGI and positive coping strategies (especially positive self-instruction) explains 52.8% of the overall score variance of self-stigma (Tables 1–3).ConclusionsThis study revealed that there is a connection between self-stigma and coping strategies in patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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