The relationship of uveitis with stress and evaluation of anxiety level and the way of coping stress in uveitis patients

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relation of uveitis with stress and the level of anxiety and the way af coping stress in these patients. In this study, study universe consisted of 80 people having uveitis, and 80 people entering to the hospital with complaints of refractive error, having no other sight problem, being at the same age level were included as control group. Following their examination at clinic, semi-constructed sociodemographic verse form was filled in the psychiatry clinic. Patients were taken to the phychiatric interview in accordance with DSM-5 diagnosis criteria. Afterward Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Hamilton Rating Scales for Anxiety (HAM-A), State-Trait Anxiety Investigation (STAI-I, STAI-II), and Coping Stress Scale (CSS) were applied. Uveitis patient group’s scores of HAM-D, HAM-A (HAM-A Total, HAM-A Psychic, HAM-A Somatic, STAI-1 and STAI-2 scales mean scores were naturally higher than control group’s scores (p<0.05). After the last clinic interview, while 72.5% of patient group were considering reason of last attack as stress, 27.5% of patients told that there was no connection between last attack of uveitis and stress. Whereas mean scores of helpless and submissive approach for coping with stress in the patient group were considerably found higher than control group, mean scores of optimistic approach in the control group were naturally higher than patient group (p<0.05). We have found that uveitis patients’ depression and anxiety levels are considerably high that they have helpless and submissive approach for coping with stress. In the examination and treatment processes, considering psychiatric aspect of uveitis patients will be more helpful for optimal treatment and care.