This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Save to my personal folders Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Trask, P. C. Articles by Johnson, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Trask, P. C. Articles by Johnson, T. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Psychosocial Characteristics of Individuals With Non–Stage IV Melanoma

From the Behavioral Medicine Program and Departments of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, Biostatistics, Psychiatry, and Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Address reprint requests to Peter C. Trask, PhD, Behavioral Medicine Program, 475 Market Place, Suite L, Ann Arbor, MI 48108; email: pctrask{at}umich.edu

PURPOSE: Melanoma is the fastest growing solid tumor among men and women and accounts for 79% of skin cancer–related deaths. Research has identified that distress is frequently associated with a diagnosis of cancer and may slow treatment-seeking and recovery, increasing morbidity and even mortality through faster disease course. Given that the 5-year survival rates for individuals with melanoma are determined primarily by the depth and extent of spread, distress that interferes with seeking treatment has the potential to be life-threatening.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The current study was designed to identify levels of distress present in individuals seeking treatment at a large, Midwestern, multidisciplinary melanoma clinic. It also focused on determining the quality of life, level of anxiety, and coping strategies used by individuals with melanoma before treatment. Given that the course of treatment and outcome for patients with stage IV disease is vastly different from that of patients with stages I to III disease, they were excluded from the study.

RESULTS: Results indicated that most individuals who are presenting to a melanoma clinic do not report a clinically significant level of distress. However, there is some variability in this, with 29% of patients reporting moderate to high levels of distress. Moreover, analyses suggest that distressed individuals are more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance coping, and to have poorer quality of life.

CONCLUSION: Although most individuals do not present with significant levels of distress, a significant minority are distressed and rely more heavily on coping strategies that do not benefit them. Such individuals would likely benefit most from psychological intervention.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Cornish, C. Holterhues, L. V. van de Poll-Franse, J. W. Coebergh, and T. Nijsten A systematic review of health-related quality of life in cutaneous melanoma Ann. Onc., August 1, 2009; 20(suppl_6): vi51 - vi58. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Ott, R. L. Norris, and S. M. Bauer-Wu Mindfulness Meditation for Oncology Patients: A Discussion and Critical Review Integr Cancer Ther, June 1, 2006; 5(2): 98 - 108. [Abstract] [PDF]

				U.-S. Lehto, M. Ojanen, and P. Kellokumpu-Lehtinen Predictors of quality of life in newly diagnosed melanoma and breast cancer patients Ann. Onc., May 1, 2005; 16(5): 805 - 816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. C. Trask Assessment of Depression in Cancer Patients J Natl Cancer Inst Monographs, July 1, 2004; 2004(32): 80 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Rhee, B. A. Matthews, M. Neuburg, T. L. Smith, M. Burzynski, and A. B. Nattinger Quality of Life and Sun-Protective Behavior in Patients With Skin Cancer Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, February 1, 2004; 130(2): 141 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Johnson, C. R. Bradford, S. B. Gruber, V. K. Sondak, and J. L. Schwartz Staging Workup, Sentinel Node Biopsy, and Follow-up Tests for Melanoma: Update of Current Concepts Arch Dermatol, January 1, 2004; 140(1): 107 - 113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Bichakjian, J. L. Schwartz, T. S. Wang, J. M. Hall, T. M. Johnson, and J. Sybil Biermann Melanoma Information on the Internet: Often Incomplete--A Public Health Opportunity? J. Clin. Oncol., January 1, 2002; 20(1): 134 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]