BRAIN-TUMOR AS A THREAT TO LIFE AND PERSONALITY - THE SPOUSES PERSPECTIVE

A highly malignant glioma is an extremely serious disease. The prognos is is poor, and the common presence of physical as well as mental defi ciencies creates an exposed position not only for the patient but for the family as well. This study focused on the experiences of 24 spouse s with their partner's disease during the entire course of the disease process. Repeated interviews displayed three different crisis traject ories: crisis delayed until the disease progressed, immediate crisis, and crisis delayed until the patient returned home. These trajectories were highly dependent on the patients' overall status, and they are d iscussed in relation to the healthy spouses' different disease experie nces and coping possibilities.