Anxiety and depression, cognitive coping strategies, and health locus of control in patients with digestive system cancer

Abstract

IntroductionContemporary psycho-oncology focuses on the study of the psychological determinants of the functioning of cancer patients. Among the psychological factors that significantly affect the functioning of the patients are anxiety and depressive disorders.AimTo assess the psychological functioning of patients with digestive system cancer in the cancer-treating process and to develop guidelines for psychological care dedicated to this group of patients based on the results of the study.Material and methodsA total of 69 patients aged 23 to 91 (average 56) years with digestive system cancer treated in the Gastroenterology Cancer Clinic in the Institute of Oncology in Warsaw were examined using HADS, Mini-MAC, and MHLC. The results were analysed using statistical tests and correlation analysis. Another 532 patients from other wards formed the reference group.ResultsMeasured HLC, anxiety, and depression did not differ significantly from the overall patient population. The investigation of the relationships between anxiety and depression and mental adjustment to cancer showed a positive correlation between anxiety and depression and anxious preoccupation and hopelessness-helplessness, and negative correlation between anxiety and depression and fighting spirit.ConclusionsThe obtained research results on the correlation of anxiety and depression with health locus of control show that the lower the severity of anxiety and depression, the higher the severity of internal health locus of control. The results confirm the necessity of psychological support forcancer patients showing evidence of destructive attitudes and external health locus of control, so that the severity of anxiety-depressive disorders can indirectly be reduced.

Rumination, Magnification, and Helplessness

“…35 Other studies examining the effect of helplessness on symptom severity and difficulty in persisting in the face of medical adversity (e.g., cancer, HIV/AIDS) have similarly found that the construct of helplessness may be a factor underlying poor adaptation to life's difficulties in general, and more likely to result in anxiety, depression, and a passive coping style. 36,37 Additionally, both helplessness and magnification were related to mental health QOL and depression, whereas only magnification was associated with physical health QOL. Quality of life measures assess perceptions of overall health and functioning.…”

Grief and Gracefulness Regarding Cancer Experiences Among Young Women

“…However, many experience depression following the initial reactive responses of denial, anger, and bargaining. Helplessness and lack of control over cancer progression or treatment can increase the severity of depression (Kulpa, Kosowicz, Stypula-Ciuba, & Kazalska, 2014). Young mothers experience depression as they realize that they are losing the motherhood they had pictured for themselves, and in some cases, they prepare for the ultimate loss of motherhood through death.…”

Usefulness of the pain sensitivity questionnaire to discriminate the pain behaviour of chronic pain patients

“…29,30 Similar results were found with helplessness, probably subsequent to a repercussion of poor adaptation to life's difficulties in general and their consequences, such as anxiety, depression, and passive coping style. 31 Another finding of our study is that, when considering only the CP patients, those with CS had also higher scores than those without CS; the difference is greater for the magnification and helplessness sub-scales than for the rumination.…”