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Breast reconstruction: A psychological survey

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Summary

A survey was conducted on 38 patients who chose to have breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Each patient was interviewed by means of a questionnaire to collect information about psychologic, psychosocial, and aesthetic results of breast reconstruction. Afterwards the patients were asked to draw a human figure. The Kareen Machower projective test was evaluated using the Witkin rating scale. Furthermore each patient received a personality test (MMPI). The personality tests were filled out also by a control group, consisting of 22 mastectomised patients. This study confirmed the positive action of this surgery on a great number of psychosocial variables. No statistical differences were found between the two groups, but a trend towards a significance was present on the Si scale (F=3.32, df=1,p=0.07), and on the Pa scale (F=2.96, df=1,p=0.09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service, Istituto Nazionale Per Lo Studio e La Cura Dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, I-20133, Milano, Italy

    A. Filiberti, A. Rimoldi, M. Tamburini & V. Ventafridda

  2. Oncologic Reconstructive Surgery Department, Istituto Nazionale Per Lo Studio e La Cura Dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, I-20133, Milano, Italy

    M. Callegari, M. Nava, V. Zanini & A. Grisotti

Authors
  1. A. Filiberti
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  2. A. Rimoldi
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  3. M. Tamburini
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  4. M. Callegari
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  5. M. Nava
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  6. V. Zanini
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  7. V. Ventafridda
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  8. A. Grisotti
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Additional information

This study was supported by CNR (National Council Research), Project Oncology. n. 87. 01593. 44

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Filiberti, A., Rimoldi, A., Tamburini, M. et al. Breast reconstruction: A psychological survey. Eur. J. Plast. Surg. 12, 214–218 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892702

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892702

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