A team of researchers at Glasgow University has found little evidence to support the belief that a person's mental attitude affects his or her chances of surviving cancer.

As reported in this week's BMJ, the Glasgow researchers reviewed 26 studies on the effect of psychological coping styles (including fighting spirit, helplessness/hopelessness, denial and avoidance) and survival from or recurrence of cancer.

They found little convincing evidence that coping styles play an important part in survival from or recurrence of cancer. Good evidence is also lacking to support the view that 'acceptance,' 'fatalism,' or 'denial' has an important influence on outcome. The significant findings that do exist are confined to a few small studies.

Although the relation is biologically plausible, there is at present little scientific basis for the popular belief that psychological coping styles have an important influence on overall or event-free survival in patients with cancer, say the authors Dr. Mark Petticrew, Dr. Ruth Bell and Dr. Duncan Hunter

Dr.Petticrew, Associate Director of Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow commented, 'Although we found little consistent evidence that coping styles contribute to cancer outcome, this does not imply that these psychological factors are unimportant in patients living with cancer. A positive mental attitude has many other benefits, such as improving ones' quality of life. For example, patients with better coping skills may be less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Our study however suggests that people with cancer should not feel pressured into adopting particular coping styles to improve survival.'

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For further information, please contact the Press Office on 0141 330 3535/ 3683 or Dr. Mark Petticrew on 0141 357 3949

First published: 9 November 2002