EYSENCK PERSONALITY-INVENTORY L-SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH HODGKINS-DISEASE AND NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

Sixty-three patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were followed up for exactly 5 years after first diagnosis. Survival analysis was carried out using the log-rank test (univariate) and Cox's proportional hazards regression method (multivariate). Variables examined were: age at diagnosis; gender; stage; symptoms; type of disease; grade of tumour, performance status; presence or absence of hypnotherapy or relaxation training; Eysenck Personality inventory L-scores; and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores. At diagnosis, in keeping with previous studies, L-scores were high. Although L-scores can he raised for several reasons, the L-scale may be a useful measure of the cancer-prone (type C) personality. Moreover, as predicted, L-scores were associated with an increased risk of death within 5 years; L-scores emerged as an independent risk factor as did depression scores. A relaxation-based intervention may also have enhanced survival. Replication in the lymphomas, and investigation in other cancers, should be carried out.