A Psychosomatic Survey of Cancer of the Breast

Bacon, Catherine L.; Renneker, Richard; Cutler, Max

doi:10.1097/00006842-195211000-00003

Cited by 108 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…So, this study does give further evidence that subjects with cancer typically have personalities character ized by a constrained imagination and fanta sy, and difficulty in verbalizing their emo tions or expressing them at a motor or imag inary level. These are all aspects which emerged from the studies of the various au thors mentioned [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], Furthermore, this finding suggests that patients with cancer of the breast have some thing in common with those suffering from so-called psychosomatic pathologies, in whom similar personality characteristics have been found [1,2,26], It is also interesting to note that the dif ference in the mean scores obtained by the two groups in all the MHQ scales is not sig nificant. This seems to be in conflict with the opinions of American [27] and French [28] researchers who claim that alexithymies have a below-average neurotic symptomatol ogy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Alexithymia and Breast Cancer

Todarello¹,

Pesa²,

Zaka³

et al. 1989

Psychother Psychosom

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The Schalling Sifneos Personality Scale (SSPS) and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) have been used in 381 women just before mammography at the Breast Center of the Radiology Institute, University of Bari (Italy). Of the 200 women who accepted to complete the questionnaires 13 were found positive for cancer. Student’s t test comparison of the mean SSPS and MHQ scores of the positive for cancer with the negative showed that women with breast cancer have more pronounced alexithymic but not neurotic traits. Our findings suggest that patients with cancer may have something in common with those suffering from so-called psychosomatic pathologies who have a constrained imagination and fantasy and difficulty in verbalizing their emotions. Thus, this study indicates a relationship between alexithymia and cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Further more, several authors have described per sonality traits which fit the descriptions of an alexithymie subject in those with cancer [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24],…”

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confidence: 99%

Alexithymia and Breast Cancer

Todarello¹,

Pesa²,

Zaka³

et al. 1989

Psychother Psychosom

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“…This pattern has been shown to be present already before the diagnosis is given to the patients (Morris et al, 1981). In the 1950s Bacon et al (1952) showed that his patients were unable to deal appropriately with anger, aggressiveness or hostility covered under 'a facade of pleasantness', and had unresolved maternal hostile conflicts handled through 'denial and unrealistic sacrifice'. In one study Tarlau and Smalheiser (1951) used a projective personality test (Rorschach) to show that breast cancer patients, as compared to a group of cervix patients, had more severe repressive mechanisms, inhibited emotional reactivity and restricted contact with inner life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Psychological profile related to malignant tumours of different histopathology

et al. 1998

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“…Psychological states have been reported to play a role in the susceptibility, course, and survival in cancer patients [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], Tho mas [6], in a longitudinal study of medical students, reported a definite association be tween lower frequency of depression, anxi ety, and anger in medical school and the sub jects' future risk of developing cancer. While the role of psychological traits in the patho genesis of malignancy is still controversial, there is little doubt that cancer, once de tected, has a major psychological impact, and that psychological coping mechanisms will play a major role in the outcome.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Predictors of Survival in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Leigh

Percarpio

Opsahl

et al. 1987

Psychother Psychosom

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In a prospective study to identify psychological factors affecting survival in cancer patients receiving radiation therapy, 101 consecutive patients were evaluated for anxiety, depression, and perception of the seriousness of the condition. In 3 years, the survivors were compared to the nonsurvivors. The survivors had significantly higher mean trait anxiety (p < 0.05) than the nonsurvivors. State anxiety and depression scores also tended to be higher in the survivors (p < 0.01). Self-assessment of the seriousness of their disease did not differentiate the two groups. The nonsurvivors had significantly more pain (p < 0.05). Within the nonsurvivor group, survival time was negatively correlated with state anxiety (p < 0.01), trait anxiety (p < 0.02), and depression (p < 0.01). In the nonsurvivors, women rated their condition to be significantly more serious than men (p < 0.01). Female nonsurvivors tended to rate their condition to be more serious than female survivors (p < 0.1), while male nonsurvivors rated their condition to be significantly less serious than male survivors (p < 0.01). Only among female nonsurvivors did the seriousness rating correlate significantly with anxiety (p < 0.01). The sex differences confirm our previous finding that men may tend to cope with cancer with more massive denial than women. We hypothesize that patients with higher anxiety and depression in the nonsurvivor group had a massive defensive failure, while those who had high anxiety levels in the survivor group had been more realistic about their disease. Our results imply that realistic anxiety may be adaptive in cancer patients, and that massive denial may be a poor prognostic sign, particularly among men. We also suggest, however, that anxiety per se is not necessarily a good prognostic sign in cancer patients but that if anxiety occurs in the context of massive defensive failure, it may be predictive of poorer outcome.

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A Psychosomatic Survey of Cancer of the Breast

Cited by 108 publications

References 0 publications

Alexithymia and Breast Cancer

Alexithymia and Breast Cancer

Psychological profile related to malignant tumours of different histopathology

Psychological Predictors of Survival in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

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