Comparing Profile of Mental Health and Strategies for Coping with Stress in Women with and without Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder, which is associated with mental disorders. Therefore, it is essential to study mental health and strategies for coping with stress, in such individuals. This study was performed to compare Profile of Mental Health and Strategies for Coping with Stress in Women with and without Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. The design of this study was descriptive-causal comparative. The population included all Women with and without Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, from Zahedan province in year 2018. 46 women who were detected as having GERD and were advised to receive gluten-free products from the relevant centers and gastrointestinal clinic were selected and 47 healthy individual who were matched with respect to demographic characteristics with the patients with GERD were selected by purposive sampling method. The participants answered SCL-90-R and Andler & Parker coping strategies questionnaires. The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that the mean scores of somatic symptoms (F=17.41), interpersonal sensitivity (F=3.8), depression (F=10.59), anxiety (F=16.68), phobia (F=4/97), psychosis (F=4/34), and avoidance style (F=20/20) were significantly more in patients with GERD compared with healthy people. Mental health in patients with GERD is significantly worse than healthy people and the use of avoidant coping strategies in such patients is more common than healthy individuals. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the psychological status of such patients.