The dyadic coping model of bipolar disorder patients

Abstract

The aim of the study is to look from a relational perspective at how patients with bipolar disorder (BD) cope with stress. This is done firstly in the context of dyadic coping and secondly in the context of individual coping strategies that result from patients’ attachment styles. The way in which BD patients start relationships is important on many levels, including in the context of treatment effectiveness and relapse prevention. Dyadic coping can act as a protective function against both external and relational stress, and it can become a buffer that protects against relapse, or a therapeutic factor reducing the severity of symptoms and the frequency of their occurrence. Insecure attachment is considered one of the risk factors of the development of affective disorders. The insecure attachment style of BD patients makes them more often exposed to relapse when relational support is lost. Extending the coping concept of BD patients with the attachment aspect creates a new perspective for understanding their behavioral-emotional-cognitive stress responses. In addition, by approaching the problem from the dyadic level, the picture is supplemented with the impact of close relationships on the motivational processes of both partners in coping with the illness, building relationships, their mutual satisfaction and overall well-being.