Within a multifactorial etiology of cancers and a bio-psycho-social ap
proach of patients, considering, among the risk factors, those related
to personality in a preventive view, the authors investigate, by an e
pidemiologic methodology, for a correlation between break-down phenome
na and the development of a cancer. The study was carried out at the S
alah Azaiez Institute in 1992 and included 707 patients aged from 15 t
o 82 years, 44% presenting a malignant tumour. For a retrospective eva
luation of break-down semiology, the study is based on DSM-III criteri
a of break-down diagnostic. Search for a clinic/psychic diagnostic rel
ation reveals the difficulty of coexisence between break-down signs an
d the development of a cancer. That difficulty increases in case of an
organised break-down.