Psychosocial oncology

Abstract 

Much of the early work within psychosocial oncology emphasized the prevalence of psychological morbidity associated with cancer and cancer treatments. Risk factors for higher levels of distress have been identified and there is an emerging consensus on the psychosocial issues that should form the focus of assessment and case work in this area of psychological medicine. Although clinical practice in this area is inevitably informed by work on the identification and management of psychological morbidity among the physically ill in general, there are some aspects of psychosocial oncology that can be usefully isolated from the vast literature and applied in everyday practice with those who have cancer. This article outlines some of the individual and cancer-specific factors that are known to elevate the risk of distress, highlights issues to be addressed in assessments and provides some detail on three commonly used assessments of cancer-related coping. The importance of assessing and understanding the meaning of cancer to the patient and in integrating an awareness of information provision, family support, coping strategy enhancement and using writing to facilitate adjustment are considered. The main evidence-based psychological therapies in psychosocial oncology are highlighted and the evidence for the impact on survival is summarized.

Keywords:  psychological medicine , cancer , distress , meaning , psychological therapy , questionnaires

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