Investigating the Personality subtypes of women with advanced breast and endometrial cancers and breast and endometrial cancers survivors: A qualitative study

Breast and endometrial cancers are the most common types of cancer among Iranian women which have high rates of incidence and survive. Due to the importance of personality variables, the aim of the present study is to investigate the personality subtypes of women with advanced breast and endometrial cancers and breast and endometrial cancers survivors. This is a qualitative study with 18 participants divided into 8 advanced breast and endometrial cancer patients, and 10 breast and endometrial cancer survivors referred to medical centers in Tehran from April to September 2017. They were selected via purposive sampling. For data collection, Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP) was used. To analyze the data, SWAP software was used and generated tables and scores were analyzed. The findings of this study showed that high functioning depression and dissociation were high in both groups. Individuals with advanced cancer also showed subthreshold dependent personality disorder. Survived cancer patients had higher psychological health. According to the results, there were significant differences and similarities between the two groups in personality variable. Therefore, the use of emotion based psychotherapies for cancer patients would be appropriate as it would result in a healthy emothinal experience and the reduction of ineffective defenses