Rationale: Diagnosis of a malignant disease can cause serious psychological problems in patients as well as their intimate partners.
Aim: This study investigated anxiety, depression, posttraumatic symptoms and feelings of guilt in patients and their partners segregated by sex.
Method: In a clinical representative sample 248 cancer patients and 154 of their partners were assessed using standard questionnaires shortly after diagnosis and again six and twelve months thereafter.
Results: Cancer patients' female partners most frequently indicated psychopathology that required treatment (29% anxiety, 33% depression, 17% posttraumatic symptoms).
Conclusion: Cancer patients' female partners are at high risk of developing psychopathology. Hence they routinely should be included in patient exploration and, if need be, referred to psychooncological treatment.