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.