[Distress among cancer patients and their partners in the first year after diagnosis].
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of a malignant disease can cause serious psychological problems in patients as well as their intimate partners.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated anxiety, depression, posttraumatic symptoms and feelings of guilt in patients and their partners segregated by sex.


METHODS
In a clinical representative sample 248 cancer patients and 154 of their partners were assessed using standard questionnaires shortly after diagnosis and again six and twelve months thereafter.


RESULTS
Cancer patients' female partners most frequently indicated psychopathology that required treatment (29% anxiety, 33% depression, 17% posttraumatic symptoms).


CONCLUSIONS
Cancer patients' female partners are at high risk of developing psychopathology. Hence they routinely should be included in patient exploration and, if need be, referred to psychooncological treatment.
Künzler
A
A
Onkologie/Hämatologie, Kantonsspital Aarau. alfred.kuenzler@psychologie.ch
Zindel
A
A
Znoj
H J
HJ
Bargetzi
M
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult