title: A prospective study concerning psychological characteristics of patients with breast cancer.
abstract: In a prospective study we have investigated the question of predisposing and reactive personality traits in breast cancer patients. The design of the study incorporated a prebioptic collection of data by means of an interview and psychological test questionnaires (STAI, SVF, FPI, CIP-DS), as well as follow-up questioning after a one year interval. In comparison with operated women with benign biopsy findings no unequivocal indications of a personality type predisposed to cancer were found. Both patient groups showed a high preoperative potential for anxiety. The tendency to suppress emotions, trivialise and to display self-pity was particularly noticeable in patients with advanced tumours at the time of diagnosis. Even after the disease had run for one year, it was not possible to demonstrate a distinct characterisation of the breast cancer patients by psychological testing methods. An increased concern over health, an inclination towards resignation and social isolation and a diminished contentment with life marked the changes that could be measured by psychological tests in some of the women affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Cologne, Köln.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zok
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Göhring
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scharl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies