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Coping and MCMI-II symptom scales
M Vollrath1, R Alnaes, S Torgersen
1Department of Social Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Psychiatric patients often use emotion-focused coping strategies, with maladaptive approaches linked to higher symptom scores. This study highlights the importance of adaptive coping for mental health and life adaptation in outpatients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychopathology
Background:
- Coping strategies are crucial in managing psychological distress.
- The relationship between specific psychological symptoms and coping mechanisms requires further investigation.
- The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) is a tool used to assess psychological symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) symptom scales and dispositional coping strategies.
- To differentiate between adaptive and maladaptive emotion-focused coping in psychiatric outpatients.
- To explore the impact of specific disorders on coping strategy utilization.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 239 psychiatric outpatients.
- Utilized MCMI-II symptom scales to assess psychological symptoms.
- Assessed dispositional coping strategies, including emotion-focused and problem-focused approaches.
Main Results:
- A consistent pattern of emotion-focused coping was observed across most MCMI-II symptom scales, excluding the bipolar scale.
- Higher MCMI-II symptom scores correlated with decreased use of adaptive emotion-focused coping (e.g., seeking social support) and increased use of maladaptive emotion-focused coping (e.g., disengagement).
- Thought disorder, drug dependence, and delusional disorder were associated with reduced problem-focused coping.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the distinction between adaptive and maladaptive emotion-focused coping.
- Maladaptive emotion-focused coping may negatively impact mental health and life adaptation in psychiatric outpatients.
- Understanding coping patterns is vital for tailoring therapeutic interventions.