title: Hopelessness and related variables among cancer patients in the Southern European Psycho-Oncology Study (SEPOS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although hopelessness has been studied in cancer, no data are available in non-English-speaking countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors sought to amass data from Southern European countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland) in order to fill this void.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 312 cancer patients completed the Mini-MAC Hopelessness subscale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Cancer Worry Inventory (CWI), and a six-item Visual Analog scale (VAS) to measure intensity of physical symptoms, general well-being, difficulty in coping with cancer, intensity of social support from close relationships, leisure activity, and support from religious beliefs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis indicated that HADS-Depression, VAS Maladaptive Coping and Well-Being, and the CWI explained 42% of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hopelessness in cancer patients seems not exclusively to correspond to depression, but is related to various other psychosocial factors, such as maladaptive coping, as well.
authors.affiliation: correspondence and M.D., Clinica Psichiatrica Università di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203-44100, Ferrara, Italy. luigi.grassi@unife.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Luzia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Travado
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabato
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomamichel
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marmai
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biancosino
authors.forename: Maria Giulia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: The Sepos
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Group
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support