Diagnosis of anxiety expression using self-portrait drawn by patients during chemotherapy. H. Koufer, H. Arbel, F. Barak; Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel; Tal Center, Bear-Sheeva, Israel Abstract: The aims of the study were to discover the incidence of anxiety among women with breast and gynecological cancers, compared to healthy women and to describe the characteristics of this anxiety using self-portraits. Self-portraits of 51 patients and 23 workers in an oncology ward were analyzed as indicators of each participant's self-image. Of the 51 patients, 34 suffered from breast cancer and 17 from gynecological cancers. In this group, 55% were married, 43% divorced and 2% single. The Israeli-born patients comprised 14% of the group; another 14% were born in Asia/Africa, 4% European and North American, and 68% Eastern Europe. 47% had an academic education and 53% were only high school graduates. Of the 23 healthy participants, 83% were married, 8% were divorced and 9% were single. 35% were born in Israel, 13% in Asia/Africa, 22% in Europe or North America, and 30% in Eastern Europe. 74% had an academic education and 26% completed high school. Limbs, eyes, hair/baldness, body-positioning, shadows and other details were examined. A comparison between the two groups was done according to the T-test. The differences between the groups were considered only if p-value was less than 0.05. Significant differences were noted between the two groups when analyzing the head and body (P value < 0.01). In fact, the eyes and loss of hair was found to be the most significant (P value < 0.005). The evaluation of each picture revealed the type and depth of anxiety due to body image damage that the patient was suffering and its effect on the individual's self-image. The indices of body image and factors influencing anxiety were analyzed. Excluding indices and factors characteristic of organ damage or loss, anxiety was very obvious in the expressions portrayed in the drawings. The demographic variables had no effect on the level of anxiety of the participants. Conclusions: "Drawing of self image" is a simple and effective system not only for measuring the anxiety of cancer patients but also for diagnosis of additional problems that are not always expressed verbally. Abstract No: 8244 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.