Looming threat-processing style in a cancer cohort Journal Article
| Authors: | Levin, T. T.; Riskind, J. H.; Li, Y. |
| Article Title: | Looming threat-processing style in a cancer cohort |
| Abstract: | Objective: Looming threat-processing style, where threats are perceived to be progressing (looming) at a frightening velocity, is implicated in anxiety vulnerability. This study aims to validate a new measure of looming, the looming cancer, and explore its clinical correlates in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cohort. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 105 CLL patients completed the Looming Cancer Scale, Looming Cognitive Style Questionnaire (LCSQ), SF-36, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Results: Exploratory factor analysis reduced the 20-item Looming Cancer Scale to a 10-item version, which demonstrated good psychometric properties (Cronbach's α=.926). Convergent validity was demonstrated by Pearson correlation with the LCSQ (0.418), BAI (0.380), BDI-II (0.336) and the mental component score of the SF-36 (-0.434) (all P<.001). Divergent validity was demonstrated by a lack of correlation with the SF-36 physical component score and cross tabulation frequencies of high and low loomers. High vs. low loomers showed significantly more anxiety (31% vs. 13%), depression (23% vs. 2%) and mixed anxiety-depression (18% vs. 2%). An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed high sensitivity (82%) and specificity (69%) in detecting mixed anxiety-depression using a cutoff score of ≥20/30. Conclusions: The Looming Cancer Scale is a valid measurement of looming cognitive style and is the first time that the looming construct has been studied in a cancer cohort. The importance of this research lies in its potential to identify populations vulnerable to developing anxiety, depression and mixed anxiety-depression symptoms. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | adult; major clinical study; validation process; cancer patient; sensitivity and specificity; demography; cohort analysis; questionnaires; depression; affect; scoring system; cognition; mixed anxiety and depression; rating scale; validity; anxiety; symptomatology; short form 36; disease predisposition; chronic lymphatic leukemia; anxiety disorders; psychometrics; psychometry; factorial analysis; factor analysis, statistical; depressive disorder, major; leukemia, lymphocytic, chronic; beck depression inventory; looming cognitive style; mixed anxiety-depression; threat-processing; beck anxiety inventory; looming cancer scale; looming cognitive style questionnaire; looming threat processing style; threat |
| Journal Title: | General Hospital Psychiatry |
| Volume: | 29 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| ISSN: | 0163-8343 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Science, Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2007-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 32 |
| End Page: | 38 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2006.10.005 |
| PUBMED: | 17189742 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 1" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: GHPSD" - "Source: Scopus" |
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