Abstract
BACKGROUND
Functional constipation seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients, most of whom have a certain degree of negative psychological problems, even causing suicide. Therefore, exploring depression in elderly patients with functional constipation and its correlation with coping styles is of great significance in improving clinical therapeutic effects and reducing adverse events.
AIM
To explore the correlation between depression and coping styles in elderly patients with chronic functional constipation in a tertiary hospital.
METHODS
Eighty-six elderly patients with chronic functional constipation admitted to Jinhua Second Hospital of Zhejiang Province from August 2017 to August 2019 were selected as study subjects to develop a self-rating depression questionnaire and a questionnaire on coping styles. All patients were required to complete the questionnaires independently and returned them within 48 h after administration.
RESULTS
A total of 86 questionnaires were administered, and all were recovered within 48 h, with a recovery rate of 100%. Among the 86 questionnaires recovered, according to the scoring results, patients with a depression score ≥ 50 were considered as having depression. The highest score was 62 and the lowest score was 50, with an average of 56.7 ± 7.3. The scores of problems-solving, remorse, help-seeking, fantasy, avoidance, and rationalization in chronic functional constipation patients with depressive symptoms were 0.52 ± 0.16, 0.55 ± 0.20, 0.52 ± 0.14, 0.55 ± 0.18, 0.55 ± 0.16, and 0.47 ± 0.18, respectively. The coping styles of elderly patients with chronic functional constipation were correlated with depression (P < 0.05), in which problem solving and help-seeking were negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.678, -0.569, P < 0.01), while remorse and rationalization were positively correlated with depression (r = 0.765, 0.364, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
All patients with chronic functional constipation have a certain degree of depression, which is related to coping styles in different degrees. In clinical practice, individual psychological counseling should be given to these patients to reduce negative emotions and improve the therapeutic effect.
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