title: [Coping with illness in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis, a lifelong chronic disease, creates serious psychosocial as well as medical problems. We investigated coping with rheumatoid arthritis in 50 patient. The examination of coping-strategies used by R. A.-patients seems to show no fundamental difference to the coping behavior of patients with other chronic diseases. Biomedical conditions of the disease (Rheumafactor sero-positiv, sero-negativ) are related to different coping-strategies. Patient without psychiatric problems have a better medical health condition and, compared to depressive R. A.-patient prefer more active and optimistic coping. However, the context between psychological well-being and health (before the onset of R. A.), coping, adjustment to illness, and course of the illness is unclear.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum Psychologische Medizin der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schüssler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spiess
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rüger
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012803:Sick Role
chemical_list: D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
vernacular_title: Krankheitsbewältigung bei der rheumatoiden Arthritis.