[A coping with Stress Training (SBT) for persons with mental illness--pilot study on a group training programme in...

This pilot study investigates the effects of a coping with stress training (SBT) programme which had been offered in the Workshop for Disabled People of the Stuttgart Occupational Rehabilitation Center Rudolf-Sophien-Stift to persons with mental illness. The group training is aimed at supporting the participants in coping effectively with stress, avoiding over- or under-stimulation and strengthening positive experiences.

In a control-group study design, data was collected from 19 participants of the training group and 11 participants of a (waiting) control group. Data collection was carried out before and after the training.

In the pre-post comparison the training group shows a reduction of symptoms in general and especially in somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, anxiety, and paranoid ideation. The participants showed improvements in quality of life in the areas of capability, ability to enjoy and relax, positive and negative mood. In respect of attitudes of competence and control they showed improvements in internal control attitudes. Also, as regards illness coping and prevalent coping styles, active and problem-oriented coping styles were found to have increased to some extent. In the problem solving training, 84.2% of the participants stated in their self-ratings that they had been able to achieve positive changes in a specific problem area.

From a methodological angle it has to be pointed out that the study had examined a very small group. Although a number of open questions remain the results obtained are encouraging and in accordance with the objectives of the training. Further studies need to be carried out with larger samples from different facilities in the fields of medical, vocational and social rehabilitation.