Coping with psychotic symptoms in the early phases of schizophrenia.

How people diagnosed with schizophrenia cope with positive symptoms after their first hospitalization is explored, along with the relationship of their coping strategies to their psychosocial functioning. The strategies most frequently endorsed were cognitive in type, while those considered most helpful were behavioral. Respondents identifying an active strategy as most helpful displayed better psychosocial functioning at 24-month follow-up.