Psychosocial care in cancer

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2012 Feb;14(1):23-9. doi: 10.1007/s11920-011-0246-7.

Abstract

Psychosocial care for cancer patients historically has been overlooked as an aspect of quality clinical care. However, several organizations have recently made strong recommendations for inclusion of psychosocial care across the continuum of treatment, from diagnosis, through treatment, into survivorship, and in the palliative stages of care. The evidence base for screening, diagnosis, and effective treatment of psychosocial issues in the context of cancer care is growing. Recent highly relevant research covering major topics in psycho-oncology, including distress, delivery of care, psychoneuroimmunology, and cognitive deficits related to cancer, is reviewed in this article.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / organization & administration
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Social Support*
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy