Comparison of Coping Strategies with Anxiety and Anxiety-depressive Disorders in Elderly and Senile Age

Abstract

Introduction

Research of copingstrategies, during development of anxiety andanxiety-depressive disorders in elderly and senile age, is a prerequisite forunderstanding of their genesis and of differentiated psychosocial therapy.

Objective

Determinecoping strategies of the elderly and senile patients with anxiety andanxiety-depressive disorders.

Aims

Comparefrequency of use of different coping strategies in elderly and senile age, inthe group: with high anxiety level, with an average anxiety level, with low anxietylevel.

Methods

Thisis a cross-sectional study of 214 individuals with anxiety andanxiety-depressive disorders, without mental disorders (elderly (60-74 years) -113 (52.8%), senile (75-89 years) – 101 (47.2%)). Clinical-psychopathological methodand psychometric methods (Manifest Anxiety Scale, the questionnaire E. Heim about ways of coping) were used.

Results

Significant(p <0.05) influence of the age factor was revealed with respect to usage of non-constructive cognitive coping strategy “humility” in the group with high anxiety level; behavioural constructive copingstrategy “recourse” in the group with low anxiety level; behavioural relativelyconstructivecoping strategy “distraction” in the groupwith an average anxiety level, behavioural non-constructive coping strategy “activeavoidance” in the group with high anxiety level.

Conclusions

Use of coping strategies with anxietyand anxiety-depressive disorders in elderly and senile age has its own peculiarities. It is implemented as a function of itslevel (cognitive, emotional., behavioural) and of the anxiety degree. Compensation insufficiencyof cognitive coping strategies in senile age is implemented at the expense ofintact behavioural skills of coping with anxiety states.