Trauma history as a predictor of psychologic symptoms in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE

To identify predictors of psychiatric problems in women with early-stage breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred sixty women with early-stage breast cancer were recruited from three treatment centers. They filled out self-report questionnaires, including a medical history and demographic survey, the Trauma History Questionnaire, Life Event Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that four of five variable sets made a significant incremental contribution to outcome prediction, with 35% to 37% of the variance explained. Outcomes were predicted by demographic variables, trauma history variables, precancer psychiatric diagnosis, recent life events, and perceived social support. Cancer treatment variables did not predict outcome.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the important roles of trauma history and recent life events in adjustment to cancer and have implications for screening and treatment.