Sense of coherence (SOC) is the central construct of the salutary model of health. Sense of coherence comprises comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness.
Aim: The aim of the study was to check if the sense of coherence can change after psychotherapy in neurotic patients, if the value of the changes depends on the level of sense of coherence and if the obtained changes are stable.
Method: 101 patients (32 males, 69 females, aged between 17 and 48 years) with neurotic disorders defined according to ICD-10 criteria were the subject of the study. This group of patients were hospitalized in the Neurotic Ward of the Psychiatry Department in Lublin. They took part in a 10-week psychotherapeutic programme. In the study, the authorized Polish adaptation of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC-29) by Antonovsky was used to measure the sense of coherence. Patients were examined prior to and on completion of the treatment programme. In the next stage of the study patients filled in the SOC-29 Questionnaire after six months. Dependent sample t-test was used in data analysis.
Results: Significant favourable changes were found in patients with a low SOC level. The increase of SOC was observed after a 10-week treatment. The increase was stable in examination after six months. Changes in sense of coherence in the group with high SOC level were not observed. The results suggest that the therapy can be more effective in patients with a low SOC level.