A doctoral dissertation in Mansoura literature proposes solutions to cope with depression in mastectomy

The Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology, Mansoura University, discussed a PhD thesis submitted by researcher Sherihan Muhammad Ali Al-Laithi, Head of the Department of People with Special Needs at the Faculty of Arts, entitled: “The predictive ability of the components of both mental alertness and emotion regulation with depression in a sample of mastectomies and non-extractors.”

The thesis was supervised by Dr. El-Sayed Fahmy Ali, Professor of Clinical Psychology – Mansoura Arts. The problem of the current study lies in that it sought to reveal the predictive ability of the components of both mental alertness and emotion regulation with depression in a sample of breast excisers and non-excisional subjects, in the study sample of excised women. breasts and non-excised.

The study is distinguished by the fact that it examines this specifically in samples clinically diagnosed as suffering from the removal of one or both breasts, in addition to receiving either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. Therefore, the problem of the study lies in the following main question:

What is the predictive ability of the components of each of mental alertness (observing – describing – acting consciously – non-judgment – non-interaction) and emotion regulation (self-blame – accepting harm – positive refocusing – focusing on plans – positive re-evaluation – setting the record straight – Finance-blaming others) for depression in a sample of mastectomy and non-excisional mammograms?

While the main study sample consisted of:
(60) A woman without mastectomy.
(60) A woman from mastectomy at the Mansoura University Hospital Tumor Center, where she was formed

In the thesis, the researcher used the descriptive, correlational, comparative approach, because it is more appropriate to the objectives and subject of the study.

The study tools consisted of the following scales:

First: Personal data form: (prepared by: the researcher, 2022).
Second: The Five Faces Scale of Mental Awakening, prepared by (Ruth Beer and others, 2006), Arabized and Targwa (Fathi Abdel-Rahman Al-Dabaa, Ahmed Ali Taleb, Aida Ahmed Al-Awael, General…..).

Third: Emotion regulation scale prepared by (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2007), translated and Arabized by the researcher.
Fourth: Beck Depression Scale Prepared by (Aaron Beck) Translated and Arabized: (Gharib Abdel-Fattah, General……).

The results of the study revealed many results, the most important of which are the following:

The variables of cognitive-emotional regulation represented in (self-blame, acceptance, rumination, positive refocusing, re-planning, cognitive re-evaluation, anticipation, catastrophism, and blaming others) together have a significant effect in predicting depression in mastectomy patients.

The results also showed that the variables of mental alertness represented in (observation, description, dealing with awareness, non-judgment, and non-issuance of reactions) together had no significant effect in predicting depression in mastectomy women.

It also concluded that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the study sample (mastomectomies – non-mastomectomy) in the dimensions and the total score of the mental alertness scale, which are: observation – description – working consciously – non-judgment – non-interaction, in favor of breast excisions, as well as There are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the two study samples (mastomectomies – non-mastomectomy) in the dimensions and the total score of the emotion regulation scale, in favor of the mean scores of mammograms except for the dimensions of (self-blame), (re-planning), and (blaming others), where The differences were not statistically significant.

There are also statistically significant differences at a significant level (0.05) between the mean scores of the study sample (Mastectomy-Non-Mastectomy) in dimensions and the total score of the mental alertness scale, in favor of the average score of (Mastectomy).

The results showed that the level of depression among mastectomy patients was very severe compared to non-mastectomy subjects.

The order of the dimensions of emotion regulation for breast excisers was as follows: (acceptance – expectation – rumination – cognitive re-evaluation – self-blame – catastrophe – blaming others – re-planning), while for non-extractors it came as follows: (positive refocus – acceptance – re-planning – expectation – self-blame – rumination – catastrophic – cognitive re-evaluation – blaming others).

The study concluded with a set of recommendations:
Holding awareness seminars and specialized courses to inform the community about depressive symptoms associated with breast cancer or other chronic diseases.

Designing counseling programs for psychological support and reducing depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer, and activating the role of the psychological counselor in hospitals and psychotherapeutic groups for patients.

It also recommended expanding the field of treatment of cancer diseases, by knowing the mental adjustment strategies of women with breast cancer, in order to reduce emotional tensions and psychological problems that may be exposed to women with breast cancer.

She also called for the need to educate the family and the social environment of the individual with cancer about the importance of support and psychological support in helping the patient overcome his illness and alleviate his psychological suffering in order to avoid depression and anxiety that could increase the severity of the disease.

The study suggested conducting more studies and research in the field of psychological therapy with the aim of reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing psychological toughness in women with breast cancer.

It also suggested conducting a comparative study between different samples of male and female patients with cancer in the dimensions of mental alertness, conducting a comparative study between different samples of male and female patients with different types of cancer in the dimensions of emotional regulation, and conducting a comparative study between different samples of male and female patients with different types of cancer in feeling. Stigma and shame.