[Unconscious insecurity before and after breast examination in senology patients without pathologic findings]

The study reported here surveyed unconscious insecurity among healthy women, who consulted a senological outpatient service because of suspected breast cancer. It was investigated whether and in what way the reduction in unconscious insecurity, after being informed that the diagnosis was favorable (no carcinoma), is dependent on certain psychological conditions. The patients were divided into various subgroups according to history and psychological criteria, and these subgroups were then compared with regard to the reduction in their feeling of insecurity after being advised that there were no pathological findings. The individual tendency to tenseness (Brauchli 1983, 1987 a, b) was used as an indicator of unconscious insecurity. Coming to terms consciously with the cancer risk and possible consequences of cancer, proved to be a prerequisite for an adequate reduction in unconscious insecurity after being informed that findings were negative.