Factors affecting psychological reserves in the patients presenting with chronic somatic diseases

The present study included 105 patients suffering chronic somatic diseases (CSD). Their health status was estimated based on the brief multifactor questionnaire for personality (BMQP) analysis; Spielberg state trait anxiety inventory (STAI); the Beck depression scale with the use of the "patient's quality of life" method; the well-being, activity, and mood (WAM) self-assessment test, and the stress-tolerance self-assistance test. The impairment of psychological reserve was documented in 85.7% of the patients with CSD. The degree of CSD deterioration was shown to be related to the frequency of exacerbation of clinical conditions, the severity of pain syndrome, the level of anxiety, depression, and hypochondriac mood. The impairment of psychological reserve was accompanied by the deterioration of the quality of life due to constraints imposed by the necessity to undergo medical treatment, avoid situations of emotional stress, restrict the scope of physical and social activities.