Incidence and Psychophysiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Breast Cancer Victims and Witnesses
Abstract
This study evaluated breast-cancer patients and their "witnesses" (significant others) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the patient's breast cancer experience. Participants were interviewed by telephone with the PTSD Checklist (PCL), invited to come for a personal interview with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and then invited for psychophysiologic testing. The estimated incidence of breast cancer-related PTSD during the approximately two years elapsed since tissue diagnosis was 24% (21/87) in patients and 23% (7/31) in witnesses. The estimated point prevalence of breast cancer-related PTSD at the time of interview was 9% (8/87) in patients and 3% (1/31) in witnesses. Physiologic responses were measured in 5 Current, 7 Past, and 25 Never patients, and in 1 Current, 5 Past, and 17 Never witnesses, while they listened to tape-recorded "scripts" portraying their personal experiences with breast cancer. MANOVA yielded an overall group effect of F(8,62)=2.5, p=.O2 for patients and F(4,18)=6.8, p=.OO2 for witnesses. Current PTSD patients showed statistically larger heart rate, skin conductance, and corrugator electromyogram responses than both Past and Never patients. Current/Past PTSD witnesses showed statistically larger skin conductance responses than Never witnesses. We conclude that being diagnosed with breast cancer can cause psychophysiologically reactive PTSD in breast cancer patients and their witnesses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB263270
Entities
People
- Roger K. Pitman
Organizations
- Harvard College