Stress Perception and Coping Strategy of Patients with Globus Hystericus

Chung, Kyoo In; Kim, Byung Guk

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was designed to compare the relationships of psychopathology, stress event frequency and stress perception between globus hystericus patients and normal subjects, and to assess coping strategy and susceptibility for assisting the understanding of psychological mechanism and future treatment modalities.
METHODS
Thirty-two globus hystericus patients who were consulted from the department of otolaryngology and fifty-three healthy subjects participated in this study. The authors used SCL-90-R(Korean Symptom Check List-90-Revision) for the measurement of psychiatric symptoms, GARS(Global Assessment of Recent Stress Scale) for stress perception, Social Readjustment Rating Scale for stress frequency and the Weisman Coping Strategy Scale for coping ability and susceptibility. The SPSS version 10.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
1) Comparison of demographic characteristics showed no significant difference except level of education, which was significantly lower in the patient group. 2) The score of depression and anxiety items in SCL-90-R were significantly higher in the patient group. 3) The score of all subclasses in the GARS scale was significantly higher in the patient group. 4) The scores of neutral life event frequency, negative life event frequency, and negative life events more than 1 year past in social Readijustment Rating Scale, were significantly higher in the patient group, but there was no significant difference in positive life event frequency. 5) Weisman Coping Strategy Scale showed suppression, compliance, redefinition, intellectualism and displacement to be higher in frequency in descending order. Projection and fatalism were lower in frequency. 6)The patient group was susceptible to frustration, anxiety & fear, depression in descending order.
CONCLUSION
Globus hystericus patients showed higher stress frequency, stress perception, and used positive coping strategies. Globus hystericus has an intimate association with stress factors, so an appropriate management is required in view of treatment.