Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Breast Cancer: The Role of Childhood Abuse

• NCJ Number: 231251
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 465-470
• Author(s): Rachel E. Goldsmith; Lina Jandorf; Heiddis Valdimarsdottir; Kandace L. Amend; Brett G. Stoudt; Christine Rini; Dawn Hershman; Alfred Neugut; James J. Reilly; Paul I. Tartter; Sheldon M. Feldman; Christine B. Ambrosone; Dana H. Bovbjerg
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): DAMD17-01-1-0334; CA81137; CA100598
• Sponsoring Agency: National Cancer Institute; US Dept of Defense
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the relations among childhood abuse and cancer-related intrusive and avoidant symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients using validated measures with strong psychometric properties.

Abstract

Results of the study found that childhood abuse was associated with breast cancer-related intrusive symptoms among women with recently diagnosed breast cancer. Emotional abuse uniquely predicted intrusive symptoms after controlling for other predictors. This study forms a basis for future work examining psychological symptoms in survivors of childhood abuse and breast cancer. Previous research has suggested that childhood abuse would be positively associated with levels of traumatic stress symptoms following a cancer diagnosis. This study of 350 women investigated relations between reported childhood abuse and recent traumatic stress symptoms in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The participants were recruited as part of a larger, ongoing molecular epidemiologic case-control study. Tables and references