Coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenia outpatients treated by Psychopharmacs - cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction

The modern psychiatric view of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and their treatment has led to an increasing focus on coping strategies and quality of life of these patients.

Objectives

Understanding the relationship between quality of life and coping strategies can help in finding those coping strategies that enhance the quality of life. It is important to study the inner experience and striving of patients because of connection with well-being and treatment adherence.

Aims:

In the present study, the authors examined the relationship between demographic data, the severity of symptoms, coping strategies, and quality of life in psychotic outpatients.

Methods

Psychiatric outpatients who met ICD-10 criteria for a psychotic disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or delusional disorder) were recruited in the study. Questionnaires measuring the coping strategies (SVF-78), the quality of life (Q-LES-Q), and symptoms severity (objective and subjective clinical global impression–objCGI; subjCGI) were assessed. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

One hundred and nine psychotic outpatients were included in the study. The QoL was significantly related to the Positive and Negative coping strategies. The severity of disorder highly negatively correlated with the QoL score. Stepwise regression analysis showed that symptoms severity (subjCGI), Positive coping strategies (especially Positive Self-instruction), Difference between the objCGI and subjCGI and Negative coping strategies explain totally 53.8% of variance of the QoL (Tables 1–3).

Table 1Description of the sample, demographic and clinical data.

Table 2Description of using coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenic outpatients.

Average use of coping 40-60 T-score, more than 60 overusing, less than 40 reduced use of coping strategy.

Table 3Correlations between quality of life and coping strategies.

*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.

Conclusions

Our study suggests the importance of utilizing the Positive coping strategies in improving the quality of life in patients with psychotic disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.