Peculiarities of Anxiety Score Distribution in Adult Cancer Patients

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2015;33(5):551-60. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2015.1067280.

Abstract

The goal of the present research is to investigate and analyze possible peculiarities of the psychological state of cancer patients undergoing treatment. Scores characterizing the trait and state anxiety were acquired using the Integrative Anxiety Test from four groups: adults with no appreciable disease, pregnant women, cancer patients examined during the specific antitumor treatment, and cancer patients brought into lasting clinical remission. Statistical analysis of the testing results revealed the bimodal type of the distribution of scores. The only statistically significant exception was the distribution of the state anxiety scores in cancer patients undergoing treatment that was clearly unimodal.

Keywords: anxiety; cancer; distribution regularity; oncology.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Remission Induction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents