Evaluation of the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and related stress symptoms in patients admitted to cancer surgery

Between October 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, 57 patients were recruited from the Oncological Surgery - Melanoma and Sarcoma Unit at the Veneto Institute of Oncology (Padua). After excluding 7 participants due to withdrawal or not meeting inclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 50 patients (mean age 63.4, SD = 12.9; range 30-86), with 48% women and 52% men. The inclusion criteria required patients to be over 18 years of age and diagnosed with malignant skin tumors or soft tissue sarcomas. Patients with neurological or psychiatric conditions undergoing psychopharmacological treatment were excluded.

Participants completed a psychological interview and provided informed consent. Data were collected through several tools, including the Personal Details and Medical History Form (age, gender, psychological conditions, stressful experiences), the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) to assess PTSD symptoms, and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-Mac) to evaluate coping strategies.