Low Psychopathology Scores in the Prognosis of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Research findings regarding the influence of psychopathology on cancer progression are not yet clear. This preliminary report investigates the severity of psychopathology assessed before biopsy in patients with invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) and its association with two follow-up outcomes: disease-free (to first recurrence) and survival periods. Method: The psychiatric assessment of 80 patients under 70 years old was established by means of an interview before biopsy. The DSM-IV criteria were used to establish the past and current psychiatric diagnoses. The Present State Examination (PSE)-Index of Definition (ID)-computer program (CATEGO) was used to define total PSE score, clusters of psychiatric symptoms (psychiatric syndromes) and current clinical severity (ID). The independent influence of biological prognostic factors and psychiatric variables on first recurrence or survival period was tested using Cox’s proportional hazards regression model. Results: After biopsy, 38 IBC patients were followed up for 3–8¹/₃ years. During this period, 8 patients died from IBC and 7 were alive with metastatic disease. Cox’s proportional hazards regression analyses showed that tumor diameter and low ID were independent significant predictors of early recurrence, whereas tumor diameter, negative estrogen receptors and low ID were independent significant predictors of survival. Conclusions: A low prebiopsy psychopathology score in IBC is a predictor of early recurrence and short survival.

Distance between Patients’ Subjective Perceptions and Objectively Evaluated Disease Severity in Chronic Heart Failure

“…Even though at this point the design of therapeutic non-pharmacological protocols specifically aimed at improving the QoL of CHF patients might seem reasonable [21, 22], before resources are invested in any intervention of this sort, its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness must first be prospectively evaluated [23]. Further studies using more precise psychometric instruments than MLHFQ [24, 25]may help to better clarify the role of psychological interventions [26].…”

A case-control study of the association between psychosocial factors and the occurrence of laryngeal cancer

“…Garssen, upon summarizing ~30 years of research, identified stressful life events, social relationships, distress levels and the number of psychological problems, having a psychiatric diagnosis, repression, coping style, and personality factors, loss events, and locus of control, as potential factors (15). Some studies have further demonstrated that psychosocial factors are associated with the occurrence of cancer (16,17), while other studies considered them to be associated with cancer prognosis (18,19), and even recurrence and metastasis (20,21). To further advance our understanding of this association, we investigated the impact of life events and social support on the occurrence of laryngeal cancer and observed that the two groups exhibited significant differences in terms of scores on the life events and social support scales, and on all dimensions of the EPQ (P<0.05), except the psychoticism scale.…”

Relationship between psychological factors and cancer: An update of the evidence

“…Leigh et al (1987) found that depression, trait anxiety and state anxiety predicted longer survival among cancer patients undergoing radiation. Trikas et al (2002) found that a high pre-biopsy psychopathology score predicted less recurrence and longer survival among breast cancer patients. Brown et al (2000) found that negative mood predicted longer survival among early stage melanoma patients.…”