[The assessment of temperament, quality of life and intensity of depressive symptoms in patients with Hodgkin's disease in different stages of the illness].

Hodgkin's disease is an oncology illness of unknown aetiology connected with high risk of psychological disturbances, depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess temperamental factors, intensity of depression and quality of life in patients with Hodgkin's disease in the diagnostic period, active oncology treatment and in remission. In this study 50 subjects with a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease participated, all aged 20-65 years. Temperament was assessed using the Zawadzki and Strelau Temperament Scale, quality of life was measured using the WHO QL scale. The intensity of depressive symptoms was evaluated by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The results obtained suggested a possibility of changes in temperamental factors of patients with Hodgkin's disease in different stages of the illness, a significant increase of depressive symptoms and the association between intensity of depression and quality of life as well as intensity of temperamental changes. The differences between the results obtained in male and female subjects with Hodgkin's disease indicate different coping mechanisms in male and female patients.