Problem Solving Styles among Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder and Normal Individuals

The purpose of this study was to compare individual with Anxiety and mood disorders with healthy people in problem solving styles. A sample of 120 persons was selected for 4 groups of individual with obsessive-compulsive disorder، Generalized Anxiety Disorder، Dysthymic disorder and normal individual. They completed problem solving style questionnaire. the result of this study using MANOVA and post hoc showed significant differences between groups in all subscales، except the avoidant subscale. Clinical groups had significantly higher scores in helplessness and control styles than normal group but in creativity، confidence and approach style normal group showed higher scores than clinical groups. problem solving styles can be distinguished between clinical and non clinical groups، further non-constructive styles has priority in clinical samples and affect on continuing illness. So therapeutic approaches which target these components can be improve prognosis.