PROGNOSIS, PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS AND ATTITU DE TO PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC SUPPORT IN PATIENTS WITH MELANOMA

A total of 205 patients suffering from stage I and stage II melanoma w ere investigated with reference to psychosocial stress, social support and attitude to offers of psychotherapeutic support. Additional couns elling by their dermatologist was considered helpful by 59% of the pat ients, and interviews with a psychotherapist, by 20%. Patients who whe re more anxious about a progression of the cancer and thought they had not been given sufficient information about their illness preferred t o seek help from the dermatologist. Patients who appreciated additiona l counselling by a psychotherapist were usually those with a poorer pr ognosis for their melanoma and those on whom psychosocial distress wei ghed especially heavily and who had less social support.