title: Psychosocial adjustment to cystectomy for bladder carcinoma and effects on interpersonal relationships.
abstract: Postoperative adjustment and the psychosocial consequences of cystectomy were studied in 34 patients with bladder carcinoma. Urinary diversion was accomplished via a conduit in 20 patients and a continent caecal reservoir in 14. Interviews with the patients were conducted according to a semistructured outline. The great majority adjusted fairly well, mainly due to support from family members. Help was provided by medical staff in only a few cases. While relationships with friends were unchanged, those with spouse/partner were commonly disturbed by sexual problems and presence of a urostoma. The mode of urinary diversion had no influence on the studied variables. Despite a high acceptance level of their malignant affliction, several patients did not accept their present situation. Lack of psychologic support from the health services was a common experience.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Månsson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*