Coping styles in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients

The present study examined Pluchik's coping styles in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. 47 PTSD patients were compared to 42 anxiety patients and 50 healthy controls, matched for age and gender with regard to their coping styles. Furthermore, the study examined the relationship between coping styles and core symptoms of intrusion and avoidance among the PTSD group. Results showed that the PTSD patients scored significantly higher than both control groups on the coping style of 'suppression' and lower on the coping style of 'replacement'. On the coping styles of 'minimization', 'help-seeking', 'mapping' and 'reversal' the PTSD patients scored significantly differently from the healthy group, but not differently from the anxiety patient group. Intrusion and avoidance were positively and significantly correlated with the coping style of 'suppression'. The central role of 'suppression' in this disorder as well as treatment implications are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.