Summary: Retrospective and prospective bio-behavioral cancer studies have revealed that psycho social stressors may play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of malignant neoplasia. In recent research, a p...Summary: Retrospective and prospective bio-behavioral cancer studies have revealed that psycho social stressors may play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of malignant neoplasia. In recent research, a pattern has emerged, which in analogy to the coronary prone pattern (type A) has been labelled type C, encompassing suppression of emotional responses, such as anger and hostility, rationality and antiemotionality, as well as high social conformity and a lack of self-assertiveness. There is growing evidence in both infrahuman and human research that specific coping styles (repressive coping) with stress may be associated with specific biologic responses, including neuroendocrine, immunologic and other bodily functions. The application of this model appears to be of importance for further research, as well as for the detection of high risk individuals, but also in regard to therapy, rehabilitation, early detection and possibly also prevention of malignant disease. This concept suggests also new directions and modifications of stress research, as stressors are to be viewed not necessarily as pathological, but in some instances as quite possibly salutary, depending on the nature of the stres-sor, the psychophysiologic state of the individual and his or her ability to cope with adverse life situations. Quite naturally, the development of this concept is still in its initial stages, there remain anumber of open questions, and it needs hardly to be pointed out in this connection that further and painstaking clinical and laboratory work is warranted in order to clarify the role of stressors, life and coping styles and its biological concomitants in neo-plastic disease.展开更多
文摘Summary: Retrospective and prospective bio-behavioral cancer studies have revealed that psycho social stressors may play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of malignant neoplasia. In recent research, a pattern has emerged, which in analogy to the coronary prone pattern (type A) has been labelled type C, encompassing suppression of emotional responses, such as anger and hostility, rationality and antiemotionality, as well as high social conformity and a lack of self-assertiveness. There is growing evidence in both infrahuman and human research that specific coping styles (repressive coping) with stress may be associated with specific biologic responses, including neuroendocrine, immunologic and other bodily functions. The application of this model appears to be of importance for further research, as well as for the detection of high risk individuals, but also in regard to therapy, rehabilitation, early detection and possibly also prevention of malignant disease. This concept suggests also new directions and modifications of stress research, as stressors are to be viewed not necessarily as pathological, but in some instances as quite possibly salutary, depending on the nature of the stres-sor, the psychophysiologic state of the individual and his or her ability to cope with adverse life situations. Quite naturally, the development of this concept is still in its initial stages, there remain anumber of open questions, and it needs hardly to be pointed out in this connection that further and painstaking clinical and laboratory work is warranted in order to clarify the role of stressors, life and coping styles and its biological concomitants in neo-plastic disease.
