Coping with bone marrow transplantation. A contribution to adaptive vs. maladaptive coping

The coping strategies of 36 adult leukemia patients admitted for bone marrow transplantation have been investigated systematically by trained raters using audio-taped material from semi-structured interviews. So-called long term survivors with a median survival time of 978 days after BMT displayed significantly lower passive-stoic acceptance and resignation than non-survivors who died within a median time of 229 days after BMT. These copings were of high prognostic value prior to all treatment regimes in strong correlation with a negative hematological prognosis and age. Non-survivors showed significantly higher passive-stoic acceptance and resignation coping. Form of leukemia and other sociodemographic variables or stress had neither a significant impact on coping intensity nor on coping quality. Consequences for further coping research and possible treatment interventions prior to or immediately after BMT are being discussed.