Personality factors associated with psychological distress in testicular cancer survivors.
The aim of this study was to investigate symptoms of anxiety and depression in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) and to identify personality traits associated with psychological distress in these patients by means of the MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1943). A total of 50 TCSs and 50 age-adjusted healthy men participated in the study, and we used the following self-report instruments: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (Montgomery & Asberg, 1979), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1959, 1969), Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1970, 2005), and the MMPI. TCSs displayed higher rates on all psychopathology scales studied compared to controls, but the majority of the patients' scores were within the "normal range," indicating rather mild psychological distress. TCSs' MMPI profiles showed higher rates on Scales 1, 3, 6, and 9 compared to controls; and within the TCSs sample, symptoms of depression were most closely associated with Scales 3 and 5. Similarly, anxiety symptoms were mainly associated with Scale 3. These findings indicate that TCSs present mild symptoms of psychological distress, mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms, suggesting that careful assessment and consultation in TC patients is essential to help them deal with distress after treatment and to minimize possible risk factors.
Siafaka
Vassiliki
V
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Hyphantis
Thomas N
TN
Alamanos
Ioannis
I
Fountzilas
Georgios
G
Skarlos
Demosthenis
D
Pectasides
Demetrios
D
Mavreas
Venetsanos
V
Pavlidis
Nicholas
N
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*