CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF COPING STRATEGIES IN RELATIVES OF SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

The study aimed to describe coping strategies in a sample of key-relat ives of schizophrenic patients, and to explore their relationships wit h the following variables: patients' and key-relatives' socio-demograp hic characteristics; patients' and key-relatives' clinical status; and key-relatives' subjective burden. Significant correlations were found between the scores on coercion items and those on Present State Exami nation (PSE-9) factors ''disorganized syndrome'' and ''psychomotor pov erty syndrome''. A long duration of illness was found to be associated with relatives' strategies characterized by positive communication an d patient's social involvement. Coercion, avoidance and resignation co ping strategies were significantly associated with the occurrence of a nxiety and depressive symptoms in patients' key-relatives.