The influence of cognitive schemas on the mixed anxiety-depressive symptoms of breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background: The surgical treatment of breast cancer involves various psychological consequences, which differ according to individual characteristics. Our study aimed to identify the role that cognitive schemas had in triggering anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with breast cancer that underwent oncological and plastic surgery treatment. Methods: 64 female patients, diagnosed with breast cancer from an Oncology and Plastic Surgery Hospital, were selected to participate in this study between March-June 2018. They were divided into two groups: I. 28 patients who underwent mastectomy surgery; II. 36 patients, who required mastectomy and, subsequently, also chose to undergo breast reconstruction surgery. For the purposes of evaluating a possible change in mental health status, we employed two assessment scales: the Young Cognitive Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3) and the Romanian version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21R). Results: Participants who underwent mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction surgery employed cognitive schemas that did not generate symptoms of depression or anxiety. In contrast, the cognitive schemas found in women who refused reconstructive breast surgery were significantly correlated with the presence of anxiety-depressive symptoms. The cognitive schema domain of 'disconnection and rejection' correlated uncertainly with the presence of anxiety-depressive symptoms for the group with breast reconstruction (Spearman's ρ = 0.091, p = 0.644), while for the other group the correlation was moderate-strong (Spearman's ρ = 0.647, p < 0.01). Negative emotional schemas were significantly correlated with the presence of anxiety-depressive symptoms (Spearman's ρ = 0.598, p < 0.01) in the group of participants without reconstructive surgery. Conclusion: A correct identification of dysfunctional cognitive schemas and coping mechanisms at the commencement of the combined treatment in breast cancer patients could serve as an indicator for the evolution of their mental health, therefore assisting professionals in establishing the most suitable psychological, psychotherapeutic and psychiatric intervention plan.

Psychological and physical effects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on young Ghanaian women: a qualitative study

“…Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, University of Ghana (NMIMR-IRB CPN 111/ [15][16]. Participants also gave.…”

“…Young women living with breast cancer have more severe depression than older women [13]. These women have physical, psychological, and social concerns that require special care from a multidisciplinary healthcare professional [14,15]. Even though breast cancer comes with a myriad of challenges, studies indicate that when people are diagnosed with breast cancer, they gain personal strength out of their experiences, and become psychologically confident, emotionally mature, appreciate life, get closer to God, develop empathy for others and intimacy for family [16,17].…”

Early Maladaptive Schemas as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer in Algerian Women

“…Finally, a study was published on the effect of early maladaptive schemas on anxiety symptoms. and mixed depression in breast cancer patients [13]. The study found that the early mastectomy schemes were activated in the sample that had mastectomy without plastic surgery, in contrast to the sample that had mastectomy with plastic surgery.…”

“…However, although a direct relationship between early, maladaptive schemas and breast cancer has not been proven, there are studies that have shown that there is a between early, maladaptive schemas and other variables that predict the trajectory of the disease, such as [3], which found a relationship between maladaptive early schemas and fear of cancer relapse and quality of life according to [6] and [7] mixed symptoms of anxiety and depression according to [13].…”

Drunkorexia Among a Sample of Lebanese Adults: The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas

“…As a result, emotional discomfort and schema activation can lead to maladaptive relationships with oneself and others (Young, 1999). Indeed, within the literature, negative cognitive schemas have been associated with a broad array of harmful mental health outcomes, namely negative affect and depressive/anxiety symptoms (Bredicean et al, 2020;Faustino et al, 2022;Sellers et al, 2018), and particularly among individuals with substance use disorders (Shorey et al, 2015). To illustrate, within our present study, six EMSs (i.e., emotional deprivation, subjugation, failure, abandonment, mistrust, and social isolation) showed significant positive statistical correlations with drunkorexia scores.…”