Anxiety in patients with severe somatic diseases. A comparison of different disorders with the Gottschalk-Gleser content analysis

Journal/Book: Z Psychosom Med Psychoanal. 1997; 43: Theaterstrasse 13, Postfach 77, W-37070 Gottingen, Germany. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 247-260.

Abstract: Patients suffering from three major somatic diseases, lung cancer, brain tumor and myocardial infarction, were investigated applying Gottschalk-Gleser content analysis. The Gottschalk-Gleser content-analytical method was designed to assess the intensity of affective states in verbal behaviour. It was based on transcripts of narrative interviews about patients' experience of their illness. We computed scores of six anxiety scales, death anxiety, mutilation anxiety, separation anxiety, guilt anxiety, shame anxiety, and diffuse anxiety as well as a score of total anxiety. Controlling for the effects of age and sex, total anxiety, guilt and shame anxiety proved to be significantly lower among lung cancer patients. In myocardial infarction patients mutilation anxiety was higher, whereas brain tumor patients showed higher amounts of separation anxiety. When comparing the narrative part of the interview with a more structured one, a consistent increase of anxiety can be demonstrated. The findings are discussed with respect to processes of defending and coping with the illness.

Note: Article Faller H, Univ Wurzburg, Inst Psychotherapie & Med Psychol, Klinikstr 3, D-97070 Wurzburg, GERMANY

Keyword(s): anxiety; cancer; myocardial infarction; content analysis; SOCIAL SUPPORT; TUMOR PATIENTS; LUNG-CANCER; PERCEPTIONS; DISTRESS; ILLNESS

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