Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei1,2, Gaia Perego3, Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita4,5, Paola Taranto1, Letizia Carnelli1, Giorgia Mangili6, Veronica Sarais6, Alice Bergamini6, Massimo Candiani5,6. 1. Division of Neuroscience, Clinical and Health Psychology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. 2. School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. 4. University Centre for Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences (CUSSB), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. 5. School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. 6. Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Gonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment. METHODS: Fifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Compared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.
OBJECTIVE: Gonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment. METHODS: Fifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Compared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.
Authors: Giovanni Martinotti; Laura Mandelli; Marco Di Nicola; Alessandro Serretti; Andrea Fossati; Serena Borroni; C Robert Cloninger; Luigi Janiri Journal: Compr Psychiatry Date: 2008-06-03 Impact factor: 3.735
Authors: Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei; Martina Mazzetti; Letizia Carnelli; Martina Bernardi; Rossella Di Pierro; Alice Bergamini; Veronica Giorgione; Giorgia Mangili Journal: Recenti Prog Med Date: 2015-12
Authors: Thomas Hyphantis; Augoustina Almyroudi; Vassiliki Paika; Lesley F Degner; André F Carvalho; Nicholas Pavlidis Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2013-05-27 Impact factor: 3.894