Page 55 - JCBP-1-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Wisdom in mentally ill and healthy

with chronic mental health problems, as compared to health complaints (“now and earlier”) as the criteria for
mentally healthy group. classifying a disorder as a chronic mental health problem
The results from this representative study concur in this representative study is the plausible reason that the
with findings from several comparative observations [16,17] . prevalence rate of mental health problems is comparably
Researchers found (partly, not even overall) weaker lower than the rate reported in epidemiological studies
[25]
degrees of reflective and cognitive wisdom capacities in on mental disorders . Nevertheless, despite being a valid
[25]
persons with chronic mental health problems as compared investigation that employed a reasonably big sample , this
to mentally healthy persons . A study showed that it is study considered only persons with self-reported chronic
[17]
a challenge for patients with mental disorders to employ mental health problems, which had not been assessed with
uncertainty tolerance, sustainability, perspective change, a differential diagnostic process.
and self-relativization in face of tackling problems, as Another limitation of this study is its cross-sectional
evidenced by their rather lower ratings in these capacities . design, which limits extrapolation of the current findings
[10]
to other populations. Thus, we cannot draw conclusions
4.2. Ranking of wisdom capacities concerning the stability or (situational) changeability of
The ranking of wisdom capacities is similar in people with wisdom capacities. Furthermore, selecting only 10 persons
and without chronic mental health problems. Wisdom per area were interviewed is regarded as a limitation,
capacities which were rated rather good were value and although the present study involved a rather large size of
problem relativism, and emotional acceptance. In contrast, sample with diverse backgrounds.
uncertainty tolerance, sustainability, and perspective The ratings of wisdom capacities reflect the level of
change were perceived comparably weak. behavior intention, instead of wise behavior. The latter
Some wisdom capacities are more pronounced than requires assessment with situational tests and behavior
others, possibly because the different wisdom capacities observation in relevant contexts because intention-
require different degree of active involvement into external behavior gaps might exist in the application of wise
and somewhat uncontrollable issues. This is in line with behavior .
[32]
the phenomenon of control perception: It is a basic human
characteristic that events become more difficult to handle 5. Conclusion
when they are perceived as out of control of a person [30,31] . Although the wisdom score self-reported by people with
Wisdom as the complex capacity for coping with difficult, chronic mental health problems was lower than that
non-routine events in life requires coping with external by the mentally healthy, the wisdom capacities of both
stressors, uncontrollable uncertainty, unknown or stressful groups shared a similar ranking order, especially the
events. It may be rather difficult to actively cope with crisis wisdom capacities requiring active cognitive reflections
in a future-oriented way, in order to make the best out (sustainability, perspective change, and uncertainty
of it (sustainability) and make one’s peace with the idea tolerance). Since there are rather small quantitative
that uncontrollable things will continue to happen in life differences (but no ranking differences) between persons
(uncertainty tolerance). In contrast, it might be easier with and without chronic mental health problems, the
to just accept one’s own concrete observable emotions wisdom concept seems appropriate to be applied to all
(emotion acceptance) or accept that other persons have individuals, regardless of the severity and nature of mental
other specific values and perspectives (value and problem health problems.
relativism).
Acknowledgments
4.3. Limitations and strengths
The author thanks Prof. Dr. Elmar Brähler and the USUMA
The strength of this representative investigation is that it GmbH for organizing and conducting the representative
gathered data from a large national population, including survey.
all age, gender, and social groups. The distribution of
people with chronic mental health problems is within Funding
the expectable range, and its prevalence rate is lower
than that of acute mental disorders (about one third This research was financially supported by the German
of the general population suffer from acute mental Pension Agency (Grant Number: 0421/40-64-50-01).
health problems) , but similar to the prevalence rate of
[25]
chronic mental disorders in primary care setting . The Conflict of interest
[21]
inclusion of treatment proneness and chronicity of mental The author declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.0945