[Stress and behavior in coping with illness by patients with chronic polyarthritis]

39 female patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis and 17 healthy women were assessed for their stress-coping mechanisms. As compared to healthy controls, the coping behavior of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a significantly higher degree of playing down the stressful situation through comparison with others, by more substitutive gratification, by more attempts at controlling their reaction, but fewer attempts at controlling the situation. Moreover, patients with rheumatoid arthritis show less self-accusation, but also less guilt-defence. These coping mechanisms are most probably acquired already during the second year after the onset of illness and do not change significantly thereafter.