Procedure

 The procedure used to gather information for the

psychosocial analysis began as patients were identified and

screened for inclusion in the sample. As this information

was obtained, initial visits in the inpatient or outpatient

unit were made. During these visits, a brief description of

the purpose of the project was given, and with the patients'

consent, the semi-structured interview was conducted. The

patient consent form is included as Appendix E. On several

occasions, subjects were unable to complete the interview in

one session and a second visit was made the following day for

that purpose. Immediately following the interview, the Index

of Vulnerability was completed. Values on the 13 vulner-

ability scales and other information relevant to the study

were then recorded in the code book.

 Through the tenth month of the year of interviewing

patients, notification was given by the HHMC staff of

subsequent admissions of the subjects who had been

interviewed. Additional visits were made during which

vulnerability was again evaluated. The Index of Vulner-

ability was completed following the visit and the scale

scores and date of the visit were recorded in the code book.

 Notification of the death of subjects in the sample was

given by (a) HHMC staff or (b) through follow-up conducted by

the Tumor Registry. At that time, medical and disease