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Coping Patterns and Psychosocial Distress in Female Partners of Prostate Cancer Patients

Received April 1, 2007; revised July 2, 2007; accepted July 3, 2007. From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Univ. of Melbourne, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychological Science, LA Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; the Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Jeremy W. Couper, M.D., Dept. of Psychiatry, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, P.O. Box 2900, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. e-mail: Jeremy.Couper{at}svhm.org.au
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: With medical advances since the 1990s, a growing proportion of patients are living for many years with prostate cancer (PCA) and the consequences of its treatment.OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and the effects of its treatment on patients’ partners.METHOD: The authors conducted an observational, longitudinal study of 103 couples facing the diagnosis of either localized (potentially curable) or metastatic (incurable) PCA at Time 1 and then 6 months later (Time 2).RESULTS: At both Time 1 and Time 2, psychological distress, marital satisfaction, and family functioning were measured in patients and partners; coping was measured in partners only. Partner maladaptive coping patterns of avoidance and self-blame at Time 1 predicted greater partner psychological distress at Time 2, as did "wishful thinking" at Time 2.DISCUSSION: Psychosocial interventions designed to promote adaptive coping in couples facing PCA warrant systematic study.

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