Comparing the Personality Subtypes and Attachment Styles of Women with Advanced Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Introduction & Aim: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among Iranian women which have high rates of incidence and survive. Due to the importance of psychological variables, the aim of the present study is to compare the personality subtypes and attachment styles of women with advanced breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Methods: This is a qualitative study that 11 patients, divided into 4 advanced breast cancer patients, and 7 breast cancer survivors, who referred to medical centers in Tehran from April to September 2017, were selected via purposive sampling. For data collection, Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP) and the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), and for the data analysis Q-Sort scaling and comparative content analysis were used. Results: The findings of this study showed that high functioning depression and dissociation were high in both groups. Individuals with advanced cancer also showed subthreshold dependent personality disorder. Survived cancer patients had higher psychological health. Also secure attachment in women cancer survivors and preoccupied attachment patterns in advanced cancer patients were the most frequent ones. Conclusion: According to the results, there were significant differences and similarities between the two groups in personality and attachment variables. Therefore, these findings can provide clinical implications for the involvement of mental variables in the affection and the remission process or the advancement of the disease in women with breast cancer.

Keywords:

advanced breast cancer , breast cancer survivors , personality , attachment.