Psychosomatic Medicine Faster Service from Outside North America
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by PERRIN, G. M.
Right arrow Articles by PIERCE, I. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by PERRIN, G. M.
Right arrow Articles by PIERCE, I. R.

Psychosomatic Medicine 21:397-421 (1959)
© 1959 American Psychosomatic Society

Psychosomatic Aspects of Cancer

A Review

GEORGE M. PERRIN M.D.1 and IRENE R. PIERCE Ph.D.2

1 National Heart Institute and Clinical Assistant in Medicine, McLean Hospital, Waverley, Mass.
2 Psychology Department, McLean Hospital; Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.

The literature on the psychological aspects of cancer has been critically reviewed under 4 main categories, and the following generalizations may be made:

1. Published studies suggest a slightly higher cancer death rate in hospitalized psychotic patients than in the normal population; the reason for this is obscure and may well be due to the inadequacy of the statistics.

2. The psychological reactions and defenses of persons to the development of cancer are reported to be similar to those found in neurotic patients. Particularly prominent are depression and a sense of guilt.

3. Some authors report the development of cancer secondary to emotional trauma, or believe that cancer appears in patients with specific immature types of personality.

4. One group reports that established cancer grows more slowly in less inhibited individuals.

The methods used in these studies may be grouped into 4 basic types--anecdotal, interview and case history, sociological and demographic analysis, and psychological testing. Unfortunately most of the studies suffer from inadequacy of design, and consequently the reported findings are subject to question.

Specific suggestions are made for future research in this field, specifically in regard to the selection of cancer patients, the nature of control groups, the nature of measuring instruments, terminology, and statistical analysis. It is hoped that adoption of such suggestions by future investigators will open the way for more fruitful and scientific research in this complex field.

Submitted on May 5, 1959




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Schizophr BullHome page
J. J. Prochaska, S. M. Hall, and L. A. Bero
Tobacco Use Among Individuals With Schizophrenia: What Role Has the Tobacco Industry Played?
Schizophr Bull, May 1, 2008; 34(3): 555 - 567.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
B. Fox
Cancer death risk in hospitalized mental patients
Science, September 15, 1978; 201(4360): 966 - 968.
[PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1959 by the American Psychosomatic Society