title: Strategies to cope with treatment in substance use disorder male patients with and without schizophrenia.
abstract: Coping strategies (CS) are the efforts made by an individual to manage the internal and external demands of stressful situations. Studies showed that in patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), adaptive and problem-focused CS are related to fewer relapses and better treatment outcomes. Considering the high rates of comorbidity between SUD and schizophrenia (SZ), and the deficiencies observed in SZ patients in the use of active problem-focused CS, this study aims to explore CS used by SUD patients with and without SZ to deal with treatment. 82 males (18-55 year) under treatment for a SUD were considered in two groups: SUD without psychiatric comorbidity (SUD; N=43) and SUD with SZ (SZ+; N=39) and assessed through The Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). Our results indicated that SUD and SZ+ patients only differed in the amount of Engagement strategies they used. Compared to SUD, SZ+ patients showed lesser use of Problem Solving, Social Support and Self-Criticism, and lower Self-Perceived Capacity to engage the Problem. Besides, compared to norms, SUD and SZ+ patients were less likely to use adaptive CS, although this was more remarkable for SZ+ group. Further studies are needed to explore possible benefits of improving CS as part of treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, School of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Julia E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marquez-Arrico
authors.affiliation: Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior (IR3C), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benaiges
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, School of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior (IR3C), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: aadan@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Coping strategies; Dual diagnosis; Engagement coping; Schizophrenia; Substance Use Disorders