Psychological morbidity in ovarian cancer: An alternative assessment method

Studies of psychological morbidity and quality of life in ovarian cancer (OC) patients have largely relied on self-report measures despite substantial research questioning the confounding effects of denial and self-deception in self-report scores. This study investigated the use of the Early Memory Index (EMI) for detection of psychological distress among OC patients. Early Memory Index outcomes of 77 OC outpatients were compared with high and low distress scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form-Y (STAI-S, STAI-T). A higher percentage of participants scored as distressed on the EMI (51%) than the CES-D (30%), STAI-S (16%), and STAI-T (21%). A sizable percentage (up to 48%) of low distress respondents on self-report measures demonstrated illusory mental health on the EMI. Results support earlier research demonstrating self-report scales’ limitation detecting psychological distress and the possibility of the EMI as an alternative screening measure of psychological adjustment in OC patients.