Comparison of depression, anxiety, rumination, thought suppression and coping styles in spouses of schizophrenic patients and normal individuals

Abstract

Aim: The present study aim was to determine level of depression, anxiety, rumination, thought suppression and coping styles in spouses of male schizophrenic patients and female spouses of normal individuals. Method: Method was comparative and statistical population included all spouses of hospitalized schizophrenic patients in hospitals, welfare and rehabilitation centers of Tehran and Shahryar (N=435). 67 married patients and among them 46 were willing to cooperate, through target sampling were selected 40 patients, and also 40 residents in the same geographical area were matched as controls. These were volunteers and were selected through cluster sampling. Data was gathered by using Beck, Steer & Brown’s (1996) depression, and Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer’s (1988) anxiety scales. Furthermore, Nolen-Hoeksema, Morrow & Fredrickson’s (1990) ruminative response qestionnaire, Wegner & Zanakos’ (1994) White bear suppression scale and Endler & Parker’s (1990) coping in stressful situations scale were used and scores were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Results: Spouses of schizophrenic patients showed significantly higher scores in depression (F=119.078, P=0.001), anxiety (F=120.406, P=00.001), rumination (F=63.014, P=0.001), thought suppression (F=27.390, P=0.001) and emotion-focused style (F=42.902, P=0.001). Conclusion: It is recommended to clinicians to focus on rumination thinking styles and thought suppression in spouses of schizophrenic patients and training more effective coping style help them be able to decrease the level of depression and anxiety caused by living with an ill husband.

Keywords

• اسکیزوفرنی، اضطراب، افسردگی، سبک‌های مقابله‌ای، سرکوب فکر، نشخوار فکری