Differences in coping strategies in adult patients with bipolar disorder and their first-degree relatives in comparison to healthy controls

Abstract Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare patients with bipolar disorder (BD), their first-degree relatives and a group of healthy controls in terms of use of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, exploring differences between specific types of strategies and their correlations with clinical variables. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study enrolling 36 euthymic patients with BD, 39 of their first-degree relatives and 44 controls. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief COPE scale. Results: Significant differences were detected in the use of adaptive and maladaptive strategies by patients, their first-degree relatives and controls. Patients used adaptive strategies less often than the patients’ relatives (p<0.001) and controls (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between first-degree relatives and controls (p=0.707). In contrast, patients (p<0.001) and their relatives (p=0.004) both exhibited higher scores for maladaptive coping than controls. There was no significant difference regarding the use of maladaptive strategies between patients and their relatives (p=0.517). Conclusions: First-degree relatives were at an intermediate level between patients with BD and controls regarding the use of coping skills. This finding supports the development of psychosocial interventions to encourage use of adaptive strategies rather than maladaptive strategies in this population.

摘要与引言：本研究旨在对比双相障碍（bipolar disorder, BD）患者、其一级亲属（first-degree relatives）与健康对照（healthy controls）在适应性与适应不良性应对策略的使用情况，探索不同类型应对策略的差异及其与临床变量的相关性。
方法：本研究为横断面研究，共纳入36名心境平稳的双相障碍患者、39名患者一级亲属及44名健康对照，采用简易应对方式量表（Brief COPE scale）评估受试者的应对策略使用情况。
结果：三组受试者在适应性与适应不良性应对策略的使用上均存在显著差异。双相障碍患者的适应性应对策略使用率低于患者一级亲属（p<0.001）与健康对照（p=0.003），而一级亲属与健康对照之间无显著差异（p=0.707）。与之相反，双相障碍患者（p<0.001）及其一级亲属（p=0.004）的适应不良性应对策略得分均显著高于健康对照，且患者与一级亲属之间的适应不良性应对策略使用无显著差异（p=0.517）。
结论：在应对技能的使用方面，患者一级亲属的表现介于双相障碍患者与健康对照之间。该发现支持针对该人群开展社会心理干预，以鼓励其更多使用适应性应对策略，而非适应不良性应对策略。