PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT TO DISEASE IN BR EAST-CANCER PATIENTS

In a prospective follow-up study, attention focused on adjustment to d isease in breast cancer patients one year after diagnosis. Prebioptic data was collected in the original patient group consisting of 95 wome n with mammary tissue findings that required clarification. Twenty-nin e women with histological confirmation of breast cancer and 37 patient s of the control group with benign histological findings were recontac ted after an interval of one year. Data was collected by means of psyc hological test questionnaires (STAI, SVF, FPI, CIP-DS), the patients w ith breast cancer were given an additional problem-oriented questionna ire about coping with disease, compiled by the author. Most denied hav ing disease-related fears-progression of the disease, premature death; instead, marked sleep disturbances, regularly, recurring nightmares, and depressed states of mind characterized the psychosomatic correlate of the mental burden. The psychological consequences of cancer are re lated to some extent to the stage of tumour growth at the time of diag nosis; the process of social reintegration appears to be facilitated i n women whose biopsy operation did net involve removal of a breast. An clear characterization of breast cancer patients could not be establi shed using psychological testing procedures one year after diagnosis o f the disease.