STRESS COPING OF PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS

Seventy-six male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (SA) and sixteen healthy controls were assessed for their stress coping mechanisms. As compared to healthy controls, the coping behaviour of the patients wi th SA was characterized by a significantly higher degree of playing do wn the stressful situation through comparison with others and by more substitutive gratification; they also showed less self-accusation and resignation. These coping mechanisms apparently do not change signific antly in the course of the illness, as in our study we found that pati ents with different durations of illness did not differ from each othe r with regard to the coping strategies they used. When comparing the d ifferent strategies of coping the subjective intensity of pain, we fou nd at a low intensity of pain a significant positive correlation with the strategies of 'playing down the stressful situation through compar ison with others' and 'positive self-instruction', and a negative corr elation with 'self-accusation'.