Çetinkaya, Selma Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Tıp Eğitimi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Özeç, Ayşe Vural Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Özdemir, Deniz Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Kavakcı, Önder Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Sümer, Haldun Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Erdoğan, Haydar Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Turkey

Coping strategies with depression and anxiety in glaucoma patients

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Aim. Glaucoma is usually seen in older age, resulting in a chronic disease leading to blindness if not treated. This study was performed to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms levels as well as coping strategy in glaucoma patients. Methods. This study, which was a descriptive cross-sectional research, was performed with 144 glaucoma patients out of 170 who were admitted to Cumhuriyet School of Medicine, Department of Practice and Research Hospital eye unit between November 2007 and May 2009. As a control group, 152 patients whose were admitted to other out patients clinics with different chronic disorders were taken. The data were collected by questionnaire method. Questions were asked to determine the demographic profile and psychological status of the patients as well as their knowledge about glaucoma. Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory I-II (STAI-I, STAI-II) and Coping Strategies with Stress Inventory (COPE) were used for psychological evaluation. Results. There was a statistically significant difference between study and control group in terms of BDI, STAI-I and STAI-II mean points (p 0.05). In patients of study group, incidence of depression symptoms over the cut point was 45.8% while it was 38.5% in the control group. In both groups, avarage depression points of women patients were found to be significantly higher compared to male patients (p 0.05). The most frequent overcoming methods in the study group were overcome religiously, positive reevaluation and progress, active overcoming, respectively. In control group, it was overcome religiously, positive reevaluation and progress, and getting social support. It has been found that emotional-focused coping was the most used method in both groups. Within the emotional coping methods, relegious coping was in the first place and positive interpretation and development was in the second place. In the third place, as problem focused coping methods, it was active coping in the study group whereas it was beneficial social support in the control group. In terms of overcoming methods, there was statistically significant difference between groups except denial (p 0.05). Conclusion. Glaucoma commonly causes depression and anxiety in patients. Therefore, during regular eye examinations of glaucoma patients, psychiatric evaluation and treatment should be performed.

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Glaucoma , depression , anxiety , coping strategie

Cumhuriyet Medical Journal

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