Coping style and psychopathological morbidity in patients with advanced melanoma: differences between cancer therapy, metastatic location and staging.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma has been steadily increasing in recent years and remains one of the most frequent cancers in adolescents and young adults. The literature shows how a high percentage of melanoma patients present with high anxiety and depression scores and a correlation between worsening quality of life and impaired body image has been shown. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between cutaneous and visceral metastasis in a group of 73 patients with advanced melanoma in relation to body image, anxiety, depression, and coping style.

METHODS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Body Image Scale and Mini-Mac questionnaires were administered to a sample of 73 subjects with advanced melanoma (stage III and IV); Analyses were performed with SPSS version 28.01 and a P value <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: Emerging results indicated greater body image impairment in patients with skin metastasis, no significant difference in anxiety and depression by staging. Patients receiving target therapy showed a reduction in anxiety and depression compared with patients receiving immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: In line with the literature, cutaneous metastatic involvement negatively affected body image, a prevalence rate of anxiety and depression of 28,8% and 19.2%, respectively, emerged in the sample, while 17.8% reported significant body image impairment, suggesting how melanoma impacts in patient's quality of life.