engleski

Quality of life and psychological status of patients with malignant melanoma

Melanoma patients are subject to different degrees of psychosocial distress as a consequence of the condition such as those related to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and lowered quality of life. The identification of melanoma patients in need of psychosocial intervention is a necessary prerequisite for relieving their distress and specifically supporting their coping strategies. It is important that the presence of distress and psychological disturbances in such patients are ascertained by specific screening instruments. In our Clinic which is the Croatian Refferal Center for melanoma a prospective clinical trial is in course in which standardised psychometric questionnaires such as Beck Depression Test (BDI), State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Measure of Psychological Stress (MPS), and subjective assessment of quality of life are used in order to evaluate the influence of the disease on psychological status of patients and their quality of life. Data will be compared with results from group of dermatological patients with other skin disease and with normative data for healthy population. We expect that melanoma patients experience psychological distress what will be reflected in measures of psychological status. In addition, subjective quality (SQOL) of life will show decline in new patients but it is hypothesised that it is possible for SQOL to be recovered to normative levels due to adaption and better coping with illness. Results will give the basis for the psychosocial support and intervention for melanoma patients.

melanoma ; quality of life ; psychological aspect

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