P01-121 - Coping Styles and Quality of Life in war Veterans with PTSD

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze interrelations of coping stills and quality of life of war veterans, who have sought psychiatric help.

Analyzed were 98 war veterans who have, during the year 2008, been ambulatory cured at the Department of Psychiatry in Tuzla. This study involved war veterans who have been diagnosed Posttraumatic stress disorder by applying the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID). The modified questionnaire Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) was used in order to examine coping stills, and the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life was used to examine quality of life.

In the analyzed group, a significantly higher number of war veterans (p< 0.05) used non-functional strategies of suppressing emotions, physical isolation, alcohol, seeking for social help out of instrumental reasons, behavioural and mental avoidance, deny, while a significantly minor number used strategies orientated towards the problem (p< 0.001). A significantly higher number of veterans (p< 0.001) was not satisfied with their financial situation, with the number and quality of their friendships, free time activities, physical and mental health. A significant negative correlation was found between the level of non-functions coping strategies and the level of satisfaction with those stated domains of quality of life. Obtained results indicate that war veterans with PTSD who have sought help used significantly more dysfunctional coping strategies.