Individuals with ultra high-risk for psychosis experience impaired coping styles compared with healthy controls

Background: The study was designed to assess the role of coping style and self-esteem in the context of different phases of schizophrenia. Methods: Recurrent Schizophrenia (ReSch) , first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP), ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) patients, and healthy controls (HC) (40 per group) were subjected to in-person clinical interviews. The results of these interviews were then used to gauge coping style and self-esteem using the Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ) and the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Data were analyzed through ANCOVAs and logistic regression analyses. Results: The result s found that positive coping style (CSQ problem-solving and CSQ seeking for help) generally decline with progression through the HC, UHR, and FEP groups,while negative coping style(CSQ fantasy,CSQ repression and CSQ self-blame) generally increase with progression through the HC, UHR,and FEP groups (except that UHR group was slightly lower than HC group in CSQ self-blame).Results for members of ReSch group were in line with those of members of the FEP group in coping style. At the level of self-esteem, the UHR group was similar to the HC group and significantly higher than the FEP group and the ReSch group. Logistic regression analyses indicated that UHR group patients exhibited increased negative coping styles (CSQ fantasy) relative to members of the HC group, but had greater Positive coping style (CSQ problem-solving) than did members of the FEP group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both UHR individuals experience impaired negative coping styles which expands the understanding of the psychological characteristics of the prodromal group. Further explorations are warranted to develop optimal psychosocial interventions.