title: Hopelessness as a predictor of depressive symptoms for breast cancer patients coping with recurrence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Hopelessness Theory of Depression provides the framework to test feelings of hopelessness and social support as predictors of depressive symptoms in women recently diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=67) were assessed within weeks of receiving their recurrence diagnosis (initial) and again 4 months later (follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for their current physical and depressive symptoms, hopelessness at diagnosis was a significant predictor of the maintenance of depressive symptoms among patients. A corollary of the theory was also confirmed: social support (i.e. the presence/absence of a romantic partner) interacted with hopelessness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women who reported feelings of hopelessness and who were alone (i.e. without a partner) were especially vulnerable to later depressive symptoms. The data provide support for the Hopelessness Theory and suggest factors conferring risk for depressive symptoms for those coping with a worsened cancer prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1222, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Brothers
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support