ABSTRACT
Physical pain can be a major component of cancer patient's suffering but suffering itself covers much more different sides of a human being than physical manifestations and often happens in the absence of physical pain. Suffering or total pain include physical pain, social pain, psychological pain and spiritual pain, which have a mutual influence on each other. The efficacy of treatment of total pain in cancer patients may be increased by additional use of psychological methods of its correction.
Subject(s)
Cancer Pain/psychology , Palliative Care/psychology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Cancer Pain/physiopathology , Cancer Pain/therapy , Humans , Stress, Psychological/physiopathology , Stress, Psychological/therapyABSTRACT
Rehabilitation of a cancer patient should be aimed not only at eliminating the disease itself and restore natural functions of the body but also at the maximum acceptable recovery of the human abilities to live with the disease and after it. Rehabilitation is carried out by efforts various professionals who in their work should take into account the state of a cancer patient and the features of his personality. Rehabilitation is one of factors in improving the quality of life of cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/rehabilitation , Personality , Quality of Life , Humans , Neoplasms/complications , Palliative Care/methods , Primary Prevention/methods , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
In providing psychological care to an oncological patient a physician and a medical psychologist come from a variety of professional positions that require different approaches and methods. It is proposed a three-phase model of the dynamics of the psychological state of the person in the situation of cancer reflecting the process of psychological adaptation of a particular patient. Focusing on this model, the authors conclude that psychological care to cancer patient, performed by a doctor and a medical psychologist, are different kinds of psychological care that does not replace but complement each other.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Neoplasms/psychology , Patients/psychology , Physician's Role/psychology , Physician-Patient Relations , HumansABSTRACT
During the process of own professional activities any oncologist has to interact with a patient who experiences severe psycho-emotional stress, accompanied by painful sufferings. Successful communication between a doctor and a patient influences on patient's attitude to treatment. An oncologist should be able to possess professional communication skills, which allow interacting more effectively with patients. Among communication skills the authors consider the following items: presence, empathy, sharing of feelings, active listening, marking the temporal and spatial boundaries.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Communication , Empathy , Medical Oncology , Physician-Patient Relations , Physicians/standards , Humans , Neoplasms/psychologyABSTRACT
In 138 patients with malignant lymphomas on different stages of the disease there were considered attitude to the illness and treatment, which included relation to the diagnosis, the subjective perception of the disease and attitude to treatment. Using a technique of studying psychological attitude to the disease there were studied details of personal response to the disease. Along with the general trends in relation to the disease, specific to cancer patients of different tumor sites, there have been identified particular features related to attitude of malignant lymphoma patients: a long period of denial of a malignant nature of the disease and their greatest psychological trauma during relapse. The necessity of professional psychological support was showed.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Attitude , Lymphoma/psychology , Adult , Chronic Disease , Denial, Psychological , Female , Humans , Lymphoma/diagnosis , Lymphoma/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Recurrence , RussiaABSTRACT
The burnout syndrome is characteristic of medical profession because doctors are involved with people who are in great trouble; moreover, they are required to engage patients and maintain close psychological interaction with them. An analysis of questionnaires on problems of patient-doctor communication showed that specialized programs of psychological training should be created to help oncological doctors avoid burnout.
Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional/epidemiology , Burnout, Professional/prevention & control , Communication , Medical Oncology/statistics & numerical data , Physician-Patient Relations , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Russia/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , WorkforceABSTRACT
Cancer ruins the patient's daily routine and causes anxiety thus affecting adaptation. An analysis of past conversations gives a glimpse of psychological problems tormenting cancer patients. The paper gives a glimpse in adaptation at the crux of a crisis and evaluates the role and potential of anxiety which can help go through it.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Neoplasms/psychology , Patients/psychology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , HumansABSTRACT
A psychodiagnostic investigation included 71 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 61--with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at different stages. It was shown that anosognosia, i.e. involuntary protective rejection of the disease, may play a dual role in formation of attitude. It may range from alleviation of psychological trauma to mis-assessment of the situation. Proper understanding of psychological processes involved in such disease may help when dealing with cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Lymphoma/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Attitude to Health , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Among 42 patients with primary lung cancer, 11 refused, 20 admitted while 11 admitted partially the fact of their disease. Later on, compensatory mental dysadaptation in the first group was followed by inadequate attitude to the disease. The growing awareness of the disease involved neurotic symptom enhancement which was an adequate response under the circumstances. On the other hand, adequate self-assessment and finding ways of self-expression promoted psychological adaptation. The better the patient was informed of his or her condition, the more their sense of responsibility for it was stimulated.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Internal-External Control , Lung Neoplasms/psychology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Adult , Aged , Awareness , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The study was concerned with the possibility to increase QL of cancer patients at older age. At our work we used lazeroauriculo-, acupuncture therapy in combination with psychotherapy. Results of tis treatment--74% good effect, 15%--statisfectory effect, 11%--without effect. Patients with advanced stage of cancer had a satisfactory effect only in 40% of cases.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/physiopathology , Neoplasms/psychology , Quality of Life , Acupuncture , Aged , Humans , Lasers , Neoplasms/therapy , Psychotherapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The results of evaluation of different kinds of palliative treatment (the complex one included) of 430 cancer patients are presented. The practices of the health service as well as the tentative conclusions of our investigations have shown that better palliation is both necessary and promising following radical surgery or in cases of extensive tumor process. If taken in combination, such procedures as transcranial electroanesthesia, electroacupuncture, palliative chemo- and hormone therapy, laser and analgetics of a new generation may be instrumental in considerably improving the quality of life in cancer patients, psychotherapy being an indispensable component.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/therapy , Pain Management , Palliative Care/methods , Quality of Life , Analgesics/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Electroacupuncture , Humans , Neoplasms/complications , Pain/etiology , Psychotherapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The supportive care programme in St. Petersburg has existed for more than 10 years and works mainly with breast cancer patients. It includes physical procedures, psychotherapy and support given by volunteers of the Hope/ Nadezhda Association, who operate in accordance with the Reach to Recovery International Programme. In the last stages the pain relief service is activated and has good results. The Anticancer/Antirak Society in St. Petersburg provides cancer patients with help and information. Our experience with this kind of care is described and some outcomes are reported.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Female , Humans , Pain Clinics , Patient Education as Topic , Physical Therapy Modalities , Psychotherapy , Quality of Life , Russia , Social Support , Treatment Outcome , Voluntary Health AgenciesABSTRACT
The role of psychooncology in the treatment of cancer patients is discussed. Due consideration of this factor may help increase quality of life of cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/therapy , Stress, Psychological , Humans , Quality of LifeSubject(s)
Laser Therapy , Neoplasms/complications , Pain Management , Quality of Life , Relaxation Therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety/therapy , Depression/etiology , Depression/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/psychology , Pain/etiology , Pain/psychologyABSTRACT
The authors emphasize the need for the society and its formations to participate in social rehabilitation of cancer patients. Participation of volunteers from groups of social-psychological support might be a way toward the solution of the problem.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/rehabilitation , Quality of Life , American Cancer Society , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Female , Humans , Psychology, Social , Social Support , USSR , United States , VolunteersABSTRACT
The paper describes a procedure for evaluating quality of life of patients with breast and uterine cancer and discusses the rationale for its use. The method was used in 161 cases. A correlation was established between the results provided by the procedure and those of psychologic tests.
