Coping in Parkinson's disease

In 45 patients with Parkinson's disease,we investigated coping behavior and its correlations to demographic and disease-related data, locus of control , depression, and psychosocial adaptation. Active, problem oriented, and se lf-reorganizing strategies were predominantly used and regarded as especial ly helpful by the 27 men and 18 women (age:56 years; duration of illness:9 years). While age and sex were not associated with coping,external locus of control correlated positively to "depressive coping" and duration of illne ss correlated negatively to "distraction and self-affirmation." Coping stra tegies regarded as maladaptive and a small degree of internal locus of cont rol correlated to unfavourable results for depression and satisfaction.