Recent research suggests that psychological and behavioral disposition can influence a variety of cancer early detection behaviors. A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals who are low in """"""""Threat Reactivity,"""""""" a fundamental disposition that derives from a neurologically based Threat Response system, are: 1) slower to respond to the onset of symptoms, 2) less likely to engage in screening, and 3) less likely to get tested for genetic susceptibility. However, much of this evidence comes from studies that did not test these relationships directly or that were limited by methodological issues. The proposed program of research was conceived and designed for two purposes. The first is to explicitly test the central hypothesis, that individual differences in Threat Reactivity predict early detection behaviors. It is also hypothesized that the behavior that follows the recognition of threat will be influenced by Coping Style. Thus the second purpose of this research is to clarify the role of such moderating influences. Taken together, it is hypothesized that timely and appropriate early detection behaviors will occur only when the threat of cancer is accurately perceived and when an adaptive coping strategy is then implemented. These hypotheses will be tested with the following three Specific Aims: 1) determine the relationship between dispositional characteristics and response to symptoms in patients with recently diagnosed colorectal cancer, 2) determine the influence of dispositional characteristics in a prospective study of screening, and 3) implement a program of research that will extend this work and inform future clinical and translational studies. This research will add significantly to existing knowledge by focusing on stable individual characteristics that impede early detection behaviors. The overall goal of this research is to converge recent developments in psychological theory with key problems in cancer prevention and control, and specifically to learn more about the dispositional characteristics of those individuals who would be slower or less inclined to engage in early detection behaviors. With this information, we will be better equipped to design communication strategies that will capture the attention of, and adequately motivate, those individuals who demonstrate such characteristics. This research will also contribute to the construction of a theoretical model that will provide direction for future research, translational studies, and community interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Academic/Teacher Award (ATA) (K07)
Project #
1K07CA102177-01A2
Application #
6927570
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Gorelic, Lester S
Project Start
2005-05-20
Project End
2010-04-30
Budget Start
2005-05-20
Budget End
2006-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$121,673
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Ristvedt, Stephen L; Pruitt, Sandi L; Trinkaus, Kathryn M (2014) Appraisal of emerging symptoms of colorectal cancer: associations with dispositional, demographic, and tumor characteristics. J Behav Med 37:698-708
Josephs, Robert A; Telch, Michael J; Hixon, J Gregory et al. (2012) Genetic and hormonal sensitivity to threat: testing a serotonin transporter genotype × testosterone interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37:752-61
Ristvedt, Stephen L; Josephs, Robert A; Liening, Scott H (2012) Endogenous testosterone levels are associated with assessments of unfavourable health information. Psychol Health 27:507-14
Ristvedt, Stephen L; Trinkaus, Kathryn M (2009) Trait anxiety as an independent predictor of poor health-related quality of life and post-traumatic stress symptoms in rectal cancer. Br J Health Psychol 14:701-15
Ristvedt, Stephen L; Trinkaus, Kathryn M (2008) Sex differences in responding to rectal cancer symptoms. Psychol Health 23:935-944
Early, Dayna S; Janec, Eileen; Azar, Riad et al. (2006) Patient preference and recall of results of EUS-guided FNA. Gastrointest Endosc 64:735-9