A pilot investigation of the psychologic functioning of patients with anticipatory vomiting.

A pilot investigation of nine cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on an outpatient basis at the University of Florida's Shands Teaching Hospital is reported. The focus of the study was comparing patients with anticipatory vomiting symptoms with patients who did not exhibit prechemotherapy vomiting on measures of affect and coping style. The data indicated that patients exhibiting prechemotherapy vomiting, compared with the other patients, were more anxious and depressed; additionally, they exhibited a coping style which was inhibitive rather than facilitative in nature. A theoretical context for defining and treating prechemotherapy vomiting is offered.