A canonical analysis of blood chemistry variables related to psychological measures of cancer patients

Abstract

A canonical analysis was computed utilizing a battery of psychological variables (MMPI, IMAGE-CA, Locus of Control, FIRO-B and POMS), disease status, rehabilitation status, and blood chemistries (complete blood count, free fatty acid, cortisol, cholesterol, acid phosphatase, LDH, and alkaline), collected from a group of cancer patients diagnosed with Stage IV or widely metastatic disease of various sites. The purpose of the analysis was to directly interrelate blood and psychological variables; the latter having been demonstrated as predictive of disease outcome in a previous study. Results of three analyses showed coefficients ranged from .98 to .82, all statistically significant beyond the .02 level. The three most stable vectors were interpreted as Resignation, Non-Directed Struggle and Purposeful Action, with appropriate hematological relationships. Disease sites were all distributed among the three vectors, and no on factor contained a predominance of a type of medical treatment. It did appear, however, that the three vectors were allied with state or extent of disease. Ramifications for research and practice were discussed.