Research Design and Strategy for Studying Psychological Adjustment to Cancer: Reply to Thomas

The Andersen and Jochimsen (1985) investigation was conducted to determine the sexual function-ing deficits and the relation between global sexual evaluation and adjustment in two related areas,the marital relationship and body image, for breast and gynecologic cancer patients. In response toThomas's (1986) commentary, a discussion is provided of quasi-experimental designs, choice ofappropriate comparison conditions, and separation of cancer, site, and treatment effects and theirinteractions in the study of psychological aspects of cancer adjustment.