Emotional processing deficits colorectal cancer : a theoretical overview and empirical investigation

Abstract

The literature review focused on the role of emotional processing deficits in cancer. It concluded that there was an association between cancer and the control of emotional experience and expression through suppression, repression or alexithymia. The evidence was stronger for the association between cancer progression and the control of emotions, rather than on cancer onset.

The empirical paper aimed to investigate emotional processing deficits, including emotional control and alexithymia, in men and women with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. The study also aimed to investigate the relationship between these emotional processing deficits and psychological disturbance (depression and anxiety). Patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer were compared with a non-clinical healthy control group. Participants completed four different questionnaires, which measured emotional processing deficits, emotional control, alexithymia, and anxiety and depression. It was predicted that patients with colorectal cancer would have significantly higher mean scores on these measures of emotional processing deficits, compared to the healthy control group. It was also predicted that there would be a relationship between measures of anxiety and depression, and the emotional processing deficit scores. Patients with colorectal cancer evidenced significantly more disengagement from their emotions, and control over their emotional expression using one measure of emotional control, but this was not evidenced in another measure. There were no significant differences between groups on measures of alexithymia or on the control of the experience of emotion. There was a significant relationship between anxiety and depression and emotional processing deficits.

More information

Identifiers

Catalogue record

Export record

ASCII CitationAtomBibTeXData Cite XMLDublin CoreDublin CoreEP3 XMLEndNoteHTML CitationHTML CitationHTML ListJSONMETSMODSMPEG-21 DIDLOpenURL ContextObjectOpenURL ContextObject in SpanRDF+N-TriplesRDF+N3RDF+XMLRIOXX2 XMLReferReference ManagerSimple Metadata