Coping patterns and psychosocial distress in female partners of prostate cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
With medical advances since the 1990s, a growing proportion of patients are living for many years with prostate cancer (PCA) and the consequences of its treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and the effects of its treatment on patients' partners.


METHODS
The authors conducted an observational, longitudinal study of 103 couples facing the diagnosis of either localized (potentially curable) or metastatic (incurable) PCA at Time 1 and then 6 months later (Time 2).


RESULTS
At both Time 1 and Time 2, psychological distress, marital satisfaction, and family functioning were measured in patients and partners; coping was measured in partners only. Partner maladaptive coping patterns of avoidance and self-blame at Time 1 predicted greater partner psychological distress at Time 2, as did "wishful thinking" at Time 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial interventions designed to promote adaptive coping in couples facing PCA warrant systematic study.
Couper
Jeremy
J
Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, P.O. Box 2900, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. Jeremy.Couper@svhm.org.au
Bloch
Sidney
S
Love
Anthony
A
Duchesne
Gillian
G
Macvean
Michelle
M
Kissane
David
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*