The Application of Cope Inventory in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological Catchment Area study has recognized obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as the fourth commonest psychiatric condition and OCD is ranked 20th in the Global Burden of Disease Studies. Although there are extensive researches on the pathways to professional care, much less is known about other actions that people take to cope with symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To assess the coping mechanisms in subjects with OCD by application of COPE Inventory (developed by Carver C S, Scheider M F and Jagdish Kumari Weintrau- 1989) METHODS: It was a descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional, hospital based study of one year duration. All 30 consecutive cases meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. The coping mechanisms used by those subjects with OCD were assessed by application of COPE Inventory. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 14- 45 years with the mean of 29.5 ± 8.87 years. Of the 30 subjects, 17 (56.7%) were male and 13 (43.3%) were females and greater number of the subjects were married i.e. 17 (56.7%) and 13 (43.3%) were single. Based on COPE Inventory, the five most common coping strategies adopted by OCD subjects were; Active coping, Planning, Suppression of competing activities, Focus on and venting of emotions and Positive reinterpretation and growth. The least used were humor and substance use. CONCLUSION: Determining the type of coping used by the subjects and encouraging the use of problem- solving coping style may lead to a better outcome. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jucms.v1i3.8760 Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences Vol.1(3) 2013: 22-27