Psychological mechanisms in the formation of attitude toward the disease among patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

Abstract

Within the framework of a biopsychosocial disease model, this article considers the impact of psychological issues as they relate to malignant disease, specifically assessing the attitude toward or perception of the disease in patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. A total of 107 patients with prostate cancer depending on the disease phase after radical prostatectomy were enrolled in the study. The patients’ age range was 48 to 84 years. Pathogenic reactions caused by patient’s perception of the diagnosis and internal illness model had an impact on the disease course, adherence to treatment, and quality of life. Psychological tests were used to study the relationship between the disease and related psychological characteristics. The findings can improve the understanding of the role of psychological factors in the complex treatment and rehabilitation of patients with a malignancy, aiding in the choice of targets for psychosocial interventions.