OA17.01Stigma and psychological distress in patients with lung cancer: A possible role of EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy
Description
Background
Lung cancer patients—especially current or former smokers—often experience social stigma, leading to guilt, self-devaluation, and anticipation of negative judgment.
This stigma contributes to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.
Objectives
Document stigma in lung cancer patients and individuals in smoking cessation programs.
Measure correlations between stigma, anxiety, depression, and quality of life across disease stages.
Evaluate EMDR therapy as a psychotherapeutic intervention to help reprocess traumatic or emotionally stressful experiences related to illness and personal history.
Methods
Participants included lung cancer patients and smokers undergoing cessation treatment.
Psychological assessments used:
• Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• SF-36 Quality of Life
• Impact of Events Scale (IES-R)
• CORE-OM
• Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ)
• Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI)
EMDR’s Role
EMDR was used to desensitize and cognitively restructure distressing experiences.
Aimed to improve emotional regulation, reduce self-stigma, and support behavioral change in smoking cessation and coping with illness.
Lung cancer patients—especially current or former smokers—often experience social stigma, leading to guilt, self-devaluation, and anticipation of negative judgment.
This stigma contributes to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.
Objectives
Document stigma in lung cancer patients and individuals in smoking cessation programs.
Measure correlations between stigma, anxiety, depression, and quality of life across disease stages.
Evaluate EMDR therapy as a psychotherapeutic intervention to help reprocess traumatic or emotionally stressful experiences related to illness and personal history.
Methods
Participants included lung cancer patients and smokers undergoing cessation treatment.
Psychological assessments used:
• Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• SF-36 Quality of Life
• Impact of Events Scale (IES-R)
• CORE-OM
• Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ)
• Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI)
EMDR’s Role
EMDR was used to desensitize and cognitively restructure distressing experiences.
Aimed to improve emotional regulation, reduce self-stigma, and support behavioral change in smoking cessation and coping with illness.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Catino, A., Bafunno, D., D'Alonzo, G., Petrillo, P., De Pinto, D., & Galetta, D. (2023). OA17.01 Stigma and psychological distress in patients with lung cancer: A possible role of EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy [Conference presentation abstract]. Presented at the IASLC 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Singapore
Collection
Citation
“OA17.01Stigma and psychological distress in patients with lung cancer: A possible role of EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed August 11, 2026, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/30177.