We investigated the effect of the deep brain stimulation (DBS) on coping strategies while taking depression into account. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were divided into three groups matched for sex, age, and disease severity: one, just before DBS, another at 12 months post DBS, and a group of patients not being considered for DBS. Each patient was asked to complete two self-reports about their coping styles: The ways of coping check list and the coping with health, injuries, and problems scale. The Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale was assessed by a psychologist. After control for depression, significant differences were noticed concerning two coping strategies: instrumental (P < 0.01) and emotional (P < 0.05) ones, with higher instrumental coping strategies (seeking more information) for patients prior DBS and higher emotional strategies (avoidance, emotional preoccupation) for patients not being considered for surgery. These results confirmed our clinical impression that coping strategies differ as a function of the surgical status of PD patients.
(c) 2007 Movement Disorder Society.