Anticipatory nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.
The present study reports on a mediating mechanism for anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) in cancer chemotherapy. ANV is usually explained as a classically conditioned response. However, conditioning models have failed to explain individual variation in ANV susceptibility. On the basis of the positive correlation between degree of autonomic reactivity (AR) and conditionability, it is proposed that individual AR is predictive of ANV development. Of the 31 patients who participated in the study, 74% experienced postinfusion nausea and vomiting (PNV). Of the 23 patients who experienced PNV, 52% developed ANV. AR was recorded in a habituation paradigm before chemotherapy treatment was initiated. The patients in the ANV group showed significantly increased sympathetic reactivity as compared with the no-ANV group, implying that AR is a mediator of ANV development.
Kvale
G
G
Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway.
Hugdahl
K
K
Asbjørnsen
A
A
Rosengren
B
B
Lote
K
K
Nordby
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D014840:Vomiting, Anticipatory / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents