Guilt as impact factor on family functioning in families with cancer patient

Abstract

Cancer has a negative impact on the mental health not only patients but also their relatives. Based on ethical and deontological principles were examined 288 family members of cancer patient, 174 husbands and 114 wives. In the study used such diagnostic methods as Perceived Guilt Index and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale (FACES-3), a clinical-psychological interview. It is determined, that cancer progression, the level of family adaptation and gender influenced on the intensity of guilt. The severity of situational guilt was higher than the severity of personal guilt in families with a cancer patient. For cancer guilt in the patient and its family members were a frequent manifestation of mental distress, but the progression of the disease was a significant factor in its actualization. Females were at increased risk for the effect of guilt on psychological status. In families with impaired family adaptation, feelings of guilt were a component of the negative experiences that accompanied marital interaction, and were greatly exacerbated in the crisis situation such as oncopathology. It is shown, that medical-psychological help for the patient’s family is an important and necessary component of interventions in oncology practice.