Summary of findings

 The research findings are summarized in the order in

which they were presented in the preceding section, that is,

in terms of attitudes and emotional expression assessed at or

around the time of diagnosis, attitudes and emotional states

of those with advanced disease, and the role of disease

variables as mediating variables in adjustment or

psychological status.

 Attitudes and emotional expression. Individuals with a

favorable outcome or longer survival included those with

strong hostile drives without loss of emotional control at

and around the time of diagnosis (Stavraky et al., 1968).

Their reaction to the diagnosis was described as one in-

volving denial or a fighting spirit in contrast to those with

shorter survival who responded with a sense of helplessness

and hopelessness (Greer & Morris, 1975) and reduced emotional

reactivity in general (Rogentine et al., 1979). In general

terms, these individuals were observed to have more emotional

distress, poorer adjustment, and to express more negative

attitudes towards physicians (Derogatis et al., 1979).

Although these results suggest the importance of these

variables, additional findings by Greer and Morris (1975)

include no statistically significant ( p) .05) difference

between longer and shorter survivors in terms of expression

of anger, depression, or hostility.