Psychiatric symptoms and psychological distress in patients suffering from advanced cancer and in those considered “cured”: the role of parenting and family relationship

The aim of this study is to analyze the parenting and perception of family support, as predictor variables to psychiatric symptoms and psychological distress in patients suffering from advanced cancer and in those considered "cured." We hypothesize: a) the presence of a relationship between family involvement and psychological distress in both groups of patients; b) a relationship between parenting and psychological distress in the group of terminally ill; furthermore, we assume that: c) the absence of family support is predictive of neurotic symptoms only in the group of terminally ill, but it is predictive variable of psychological distress in both groups. They completed: Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument, Demetra Test, Patient Dignity Inventory. The results show that subjects healed have lower level of somatization than terminally ill patients and the former have a greater peace of mind, perception of social support and relational dependence.