QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND COPING WITH ILLNESS - SELF-HELP INITIATIVES FOR PATIENTS WITH SARCOIDOSIS

Despite the fact sarcoidosis is one of the most widespread granulomato us disorders little is known about the psychosocial characteristics as sociated with the disorder, The findings of an explorative survey held in cooperation with the German National Self-Help Initiative concerni ng patients' subjective appraisal of their health-related quality of l ife and their ability to cope with illness are presented. Standarized assessment instruments were used in ascertaining the characteristics o f interest. Data reveal that sarcoidosis patients rate their health-re lated quality of life significantly lower than a non-clinical normativ e sample. Analysis of responses concerning patients' ability to cope w ith illness hint at their use of coping strategies specific to the dis order as well as general, diagnosis-unspecific strategies.