Loss of Cathexes as a Common Psychodynamic Characteristic of Cancer Patients: An Attempt at Statistical Validation of a Clinical Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that the cancer patient has, more often than chance alone would permit, lost a major cathexis some time before the development of the neoplasm. Certain predictions as to relative cancer mortality rates in different groups are made from this hypothesis. An examination of the statistical literature in the cancer field bears out these predictions and offers additional evidence. The possible validity of this hypothesis suggests that further investigation would be highly desirable.