Psychiatry Investig. 2025 Oct;22(10):1209-1216. doi: 10.30773/pi.2025.0145. Epub 2025 Oct 2.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Stress and coping strategies can influence the onset and recurrence of mood episodes. Assessment and classification of stress-coping behaviors might be necessary for intervention to correct maladaptive coping strategies. This study aimed to explore clinical types of stress-coping behaviors in patients with mood disorders using cluster analysis, and compare clinical characteristics among clusters.
METHODS: This study included 252 patients with mood disorders. Types of stress-coping behaviors were classified by cluster analysis using the scores of the Behavioral Checklist for Coping with Stress. Clinical characteristics, measured by Clinical Global Impression Severity, Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, were compared among clusters.
RESULTS: Stress-coping behaviors were identified into four clusters named Balanced, Withdrawn, Impulsive, and Active Clusters. The Balanced Cluster used personal and social activities predominantly and was coping adaptively and less depressed. The Withdrawn Cluster showed significantly fewer coping behaviors and was more depressed. The Impulsive Cluster used pleasure-seeking behaviors predominantly and personal activities minimally. They showed more bipolarity and were depressed. The Active Cluster used the most numerous coping behaviors. They showed more bipolarity and were not depressed.
CONCLUSION: This study showed four types of stress-coping behaviors, such as Balanced, Withdrawn, Impulsive, and Active types, reflecting different clinical characteristics. Future research needs to be conducted to determine whether each type of stress-coping behavior is related to clinical prognosis in prospective studies and whether modification of coping behavior can improve prognosis.
PMID:41207285 | DOI:10.30773/pi.2025.0145
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