THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN A GROUP OF MELANOMA PATIENTS -AN ISRAELI SAMPLE

This study examined whether there is a difference in the psychological distress and/or coping modes of patients with early localized maligna nt melanoma. The authors compared the patients diagnosed at stages IA and B of the disease with those diagnosed at stages IIA and B. The pop ulation consisted of 100 melanoma patients who agreed to take part in a study of adjustment to chronic disease. The patients were individual ly interviewed at home and completed six self-reports. Three of the re ports assessed psychological outcome, two assessed coping, and one ass essed support systems. No substantial differences were found between t he patients treated at stages I and II on any of the psychological mea sures, despite the fact that those with greatest thickness and depth ( stage IIB) are at higher risk of recurrence. The women showed greater distress than the men, confirming earlier observations made in patient s with colon cancer.