title: Psychological factors associated with acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) has been associated with several psychological factors. But previous psychological data are limited and mainly restricted to male patients and small sample size. In this study we investigated psychosomatic complaints, personality factors, life events, and stress coping in acute and chronic recurrent CSC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five patients (71 men, 24 women) with either acute or chronic CSC were evaluated regarding critical life events before diagnosis, psychosomatic complaints, personality traits and coping style. The characteristics of CSC patients were compared with a control group comprising 75 patients (46 men, 29 women) suffering from acute or chronic ophthalmic disorders other than CSC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with patients of the control group, CSC patients reported more psychosomatic problems, unfavourable stress coping strategies and critical life events as well as elevated tension, aggression, strain, emotional instability and achievement orientation. Except for aggression the observed characteristics were more pronounced in acute than in chronic CSC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The appearance of CSC may be associated with an accumulation of stressful life events with an unfavourable coping style and distinctive personality factors. Acute CSC is related to more unfavourable stress coping and more physical complaints compared to its chronic course. Elevated aggression may imply one potential risk factor for CSC manifestation and also may have an adverse effect with its chronification.
authors.affiliation: a Theresa Lahousen, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lahousen
authors.affiliation: b Annamaria Painold, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Painold
authors.affiliation: c Wolfgang Luxenberger, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luxenberger
authors.affiliation: d Anne Schienle, Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schienle
authors.affiliation: e Hans-Peter Kapfhammer, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kapfhammer
authors.affiliation: f Rottraut Ille, Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Rottraut
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ille
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications
keywords: Acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy; Aggression; Life events; Psychological factors; Stress