Original article: Evidence for a link between certain psychological factors and the risk of breast cancer in a case-control study

Abstract

Summary: The relationship between psychosomatic characteristics and the risk of breast cancer was studied in women aged from 35 to 65 years, presenting with a clinically palpable breast tumor. To permit a double blind design, the psychosomatic evaluation obtained by a long open-ended interview was completed before any diagnostic procedure. On the basis of this evaluation, the psychosomatician concluded that the patient was at high or low risk of serious disease. Several other psychological parameters were also recorded, and the diagnosis was then established by cytology or histology. Nineteen of the 77 patients finally included in the study had histologically verified breast cancer. The relative risk (RR) of breast cancer associated with psychosomatic factors was estimated by multivariate unconditional logistic regression, taking into account age at interview, family history of breast cancer, parity and age at first delivery. A significant relationship (p = 0.02) was found between psychosomatic prognosis and the relative risk of breast cancer. Both the low and high risk groups identified by the psychosomaticians had a similar mean age (46.1 versus 47.6 years). Fundamental mental structure played a predominant role in the risk of breast cancer, since no case was observed among the 18 patients with well organized neurosis, and all the 19 malignant tumors were observed among patients with poorly organized neurosis or psychosis (RR = 7.8, p = 0.009). In addition, excessive self-esteem (RR = 10.0, p = 0.02), hysterical disposition (RR = 7.5, p = 0.02), and unresolved recent grief (RR = 8.2, p = 0.05), were found to be significantly related to the risk of breast cancer. These results suggest that this risk may be affected by psychosomatic factors. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.