Stress coping strategies and their clinical correlates in patients with psychosis at various stages of illness: A case‐control study

• Published in: Early intervention in psychiatry Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 559 - 567
• Main Authors: Piotrowski, Patryk, Rymaszewska, Joanna, Stańczykiewicz, Bartłomiej, Małecka, Monika, Kotowicz, Kamila, Samochowiec, Jerzy, Samochowiec, Agnieszka, Plichta, Piotr, Kalinowska, Sylwia, Misiak, Błażej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 01.10.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Character; Coping; coping strategies; Correlation of Data; depression; Disease management; Early intervention; early psychosis; Emotions; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - psychology; Humans; Male; Mental depression; Psychosis; psychotic disorder; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - genetics; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Psychotic Disorders - therapy; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - genetics; Schizophrenia - therapy; Stress; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; stress; depression; coping strategies; psychotic disorder; early psychosis
• ISSN: 1751-7885; 1751-7893; 1751-7893
• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12880

Aims There is evidence that individuals with psychosis adopt inefficient coping styles. Moreover, it has been hypothesized that inefficient coping styles might serve as trait‐dependent characteristics of psychosis. Therefore, we aimed to explore coping styles and their clinical correlates at various stages of psychosis. Methods We recruited 37 individuals at familial high risk of psychosis (FHR‐P), 42 individuals with first‐episode psychosis (FEP), 28 acutely relapsed schizophrenia (SCZ‐AR) subjects and 40 healthy controls. Coping strategies were assessed using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Results Individuals with FEP were less likely to use task‐focused coping, while SCZ‐AR subjects preferred using distraction when compared to controls. Both groups of participants did not differ significantly in terms of using specific coping styles. No significant differences in the use of various coping strategies between FHR‐P individuals and controls were found. Higher odds of using emotion‐focused coping and distraction were associated with more severe depressive symptoms in individuals with psychosis. Moreover, higher frequency of using distraction was associated with worse functioning in individuals with psychosis. However, this association appeared to be insignificant after adjustment for multiple testing. Conclusions Coping styles are similar in FEP and SCZ‐AR subjects. However, decreased use of task‐focused coping is more specific for FEP individuals while a preference of distraction might be more typical for SCZ‐AR individuals. The use of various coping styles is similar in FHR‐P individuals and controls. Preference of distraction and emotion‐focused coping might be related to more severe depressive symptoms and poor functioning in individuals with psychosis.