Clinical note on the use of denial in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.
44 patients awaiting surgery for breast cancer completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Thirteen patients had anxiety scores within the normal range, and five of them even scored extremely low in anxiety. These five and possibly all 13 patients were probably using denial as a defense against the stress of major surgery.
Jelicic
M
M
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Bonke
B
B
Millar
K
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical / Q000523:psychology*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012803:Sick Role