This study was aimed to investigate dysfunctional attitudes, stress coping strategies and depressive symptoms in psychiatric patients. The subjects of this study consisted of 210 patients(138 schizophrenic patients, 29 depression patients, 43 alcohol dependence patients) according to DSM-IV criteria. Futhermore, the instruments were K-BDI(Beck Depression Inventory-Korean version), DAS(Dysfunctional Attitude Scale) and multidimensional coping strategy scale. The results were the following. 1) There were statistically significant correlations between depressive symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes in psychiatric patients. 2) In terms of coping strategies, there were positive correlations between depressive symptoms and focus on and venting emotions, accommodation, active forgetting, self-criticism, positive comparison, fatalism, passive withdrawal. Whereas, there was significant negative correlation between depressive symptom and active coping. 3) In terms of coping strategies, there were significant correlations between dysfunctional attitudes and focus on and venting emotions, active forgetting, self-criticism, positive comparison, fatalism, passive withdrawal. 4) Depression groups reported significantly higher BDI scores than schizophrenia groups. 5) In depression groups, DAS scores were significantly higher than those in schizophrenia groups. 6) In terms of coping strategies according to diagnosis, there were significant differences in venting emotions, active forgetting and self-criticism. As for venting emotions, alcoholic groups were scored significantly higher than schizophrenic groups. As for active forgetting, depression groups were scored significantly higher than schizophrenic groups. In self-criticism, depression groups and alcohol dependence groups reported significantly higher scores than schizophrenic groups.