Hopelessness and related variables among cancer patients in the Southern European Psycho-Oncology Study (SEPOS).
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.
Grassi
Luigi
L
correspondence and M.D., Clinica Psichiatrica Università di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203-44100, Ferrara, Italy. luigi.grassi@unife.it
Travado
Luzia
L
Gil
Francisco
F
Sabato
Silvana
S
Rossi
Elena
E
Tomamichel
Michele
M
Marmai
Luciana
L
Biancosino
Bruno
B
Nanni
Maria Giulia
MG
Group
The Sepos
TS
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