Quality of life and coping strategies of outpatients with a depressive disorder in maintenance therapy – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

The quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional view that represents all aspects of patient well-being in various areas of patient life. Specific coping strategies may be connected to both the QoL and the severity of mental disorder. The aim of this investigation was to examine the relationship between the QoL and the coping strategies of outpatients with a depressive disorder.

Methods

Eighty-two outpatients, who met the criteria of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, for a depressive disorder, were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Data on sociodemographic and clinical variables were obtained from the medical records. Individuals filled the following standardized questionnaires: Quality of Life Satisfaction and Enjoyment Questionnaire, Stress Coping Style Questionnaire, and Clinical Global Impression. Multiple regression analyses with backward elimination were performed to discover the most influential factors contributing to QoL.

Results

The participants with a depressive disorder showed an overuse of negative coping strategies, especially escape tendency and resignation. A positive self-instruction strategy was used by the patients less often. The coping strategies were significantly associated with the QoL. A more frequent use of positive coping strategies had a positive association with the QoL. The main factors related to QoL were the subjective severity of the disorder, employment, and positive coping strategies.

Conclusion

The study confirmed the relationship between QoL and the coping strategies of outpatients with a depressive disorder.

Keywords:

• coping strategies
• quality of life
• depressive disorder

Acknowledgments

The authors thank MUDr. Jiří Rozkoš from Prostějov, MUDr. Jan Flídr from Kralupy nad Vltavou, MUDr. Jana Matějková from Prague, MUDr. Simona Papežová from Prague, MUDr. Pavel Tautermann from Prague, MUDr. Markéta Zemanová from Havlíčkův Brod, MUDr. Markéta Dobrá from Hrabyně, MUDr. Zuzana Kozáková from Trutnov (association RIAPS), MUDr. Tibor Miklóš from Prague, MUDr. Michaela Zapletalová from Chomutov, MUDr. Jana Novosadová from Blansko, MUDr. Jiří Trska from Týn nad Vltavou, MUDr. Zdeněk Holoubek from Nymburk, MUDr. Iva Ondráčková from Prague, MUDr. Andrea Bryčková from Hořice, MUDr. Jindřiška Masnerová from Beroun, MUDr. Petr Pastucha from Prostějov and MUDr. Hana Lemanová from Brno for their willing cooperation.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.