FILTERED NORMALITY - PSYCHOLOGICAL REASON S AND CONSEQUENCES OF SPECIFIC RETINOPATHY

Until now there is a lack of investigation in psychological aspects of retinopathy in patients of the middle ages. The few studies have been found, focused on an old-fashioned psychopathology. Medical treatment , f.e. laser therapy is only partially available, constant visual loss to blindness is possible. Life events, coping strategies, social supp ort, and symptomatic distress of patients with presumed ocular histopl asmosis (group 1) and patients with retinopathy centralis serosa (grou p 2) were compared with another and with a comparison group. Group 1 s cored higher on the Schedule of Recent Experiences (Holmes and Rahe 19 67) and showed better social support. Group 2 scored higher on the Bri ef Symptom Inventory (Derogatis and Melisaratos 1983) and showed low s ocial support. Additionally gender differences were discussed.