Michael Wirsching

Prebioptic Psychological Characteristics of Breast Cancer Patients

63 women were examined the day before breast biopsy using psychological ratings, speech analysis and questionnaire testings. Ratings revealed differences (benign vs. malignant, a = 5%) in 8 of 10 scales, cancer patients being inaccessible, altruistic, suppressing feelings, rationalizing and harmonizing. The biopsys result was predicted in 75% of all cases. Questionnaire testing showed differences in 7 of 16 scales. It proved cancer patients to be more dependent, anxious, aggressive, health-conscious, family-bound and antisexual. A discriminant analysis correctly identified 77% of cancer and 87% of benign patients. Speech analysis (Gottschalk-Gleser) revealed only minor differences: fewer aggressive and more anxious utterances from cancer patients. Conclusions are drawn for the care and treatment of breast cancer patients.