J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2000 May;39(3):507-515.

The Patterns of Personality and Anger Expression in the Patients with Colorectal Cancer

• Sohn SE
• Yoo HJ
• Suh BS
• Kim JC
• Han OS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Although previous studies have suggested that Type 1 or Type C personality may be associated with the development of cancer, the results have not been consistent. There have been some evidences that repression, denial, or non-expression of anger are related with the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, according to the results of recent researches, aggressive hostility was related to the development of colorectal cancer. This study attempted to delineate psychological characteristics or personality patterns of the patients with colorectal cancer based on multidemensions of anger and Type 1 personality for cancer development. METHOD: The subjects were composed of 35 patients with colorectal cancer and 37 normal controls. Grossarth-Maticek personality questionnaire and the Spielberger state-trait anger expression inventory were administered.
RESULTS
In comparison with the normal control group, the colorectal cancer patient group showed significantly higher scores on anger experience, angry temperament and state anger but no significant differences on Type 1 personality scale and other subscales. In the discriminant analysis patients and control groups were classified by means of state anger, angry temperament, angry reaction, anger-in, anger-out and anger control variables. When angry temperament variable was selected as a discriminant variable, 65.8% of cases had been correctly classified.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested the relationship between the disposition to experience and express anger without particular provocation and the development of cancer.

Keyword

Colorectal cancer; Type 1 personality; Anger experience; Angry temperament

MeSH Terms

Anger*
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Denial (Psychology)
Hostility
Humans
Incidence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Repression, Psychology
Temperament