IRRATIONAL BELIEFS AND SOMATOSENSORY AMPLIFICATION IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT: IMPACT ON GENERAL DISTRESS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between general irrational beliefs (IBs) and somatosensory amplification style (SAS) in regard to their possible influence on distress experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We used a cross-sectional design. Thirty-two patients completed a battery of psychological questionnaires prior to their chemotherapy session. Results showed that both general IBs and SAS contributed to breast cancer patients' pre-chemotherapy distress (p's < 0.05). The effect of general IBs on distress was significantly mediated by SAS, using the Preacher and Hayes bootstrapping procedure. SAS accounted for 50% of the total effect of general IBs on distress pre-chemotherapy session. These data support the role played by cognitive factors in generating distress, adding further evidence to the cognitive-behavioral theories. Our results suggest that interventions which address both IBs and SAS may be efficacious in treating distress during cancer treatment. Future research is needed in order to test the SAS relations with other cognitive factors, in the context of breast cancer treatment.