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A diagnosis of cancer results in a great deal of stress in the patient. The patient can experience a whole gamut of emotional and mental states including disbelief, denial, despair, anxiety and depression. 5 Normally, over a period of several weeks, these symptoms are resolved, and the patient enters a period of adaptation. He or she is then amenable to the support of family and friends, follows the treatment plan, and develops a more optimistic outlook. However, in some instances, the patient does not adapt, and can develop psychiatric disorders.
Psychotherapy is rooted in the idea of a mind-body connection, which recognizes that what a person experiences emotionally and mentally can affect his or her body. The medical community now fully recognizes the value of psychotherapy, and physicians, nurses, social workers, clergy, as well as specialized therapists can assist in the patient's treatment. Psychotherapy can be a one-on-one relationship with a professional, or it can be in a group format. Support groups have become very popular, and recognize the essentiality of social interaction in the treatment process. Psychotherapy can utilize a variety of approaches to change a patient's manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that may be interfering with the treatment process. If the patient is experiencing a psychiatric disorder, the professional must be aware of the possibility that the condition may have been present before the cancer condition. In addition, there is the possibility that the disorder may be due to the physical symptoms of the cancer, or by the side effects of chemotherapy or other treatments given. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve patient compliance with medical treatment, and in reducing fears and phobias related to treatment procedures. Psychotherapy can help reduce anxiety and depression, and to communicate better with their physicians. The patient senses a supportive environment, and experiences a better quality of life. 4 Observational studies on the effect of social support and depression on survival There are many reports in the literature regarding the effect of psychosocial factors on patient survival. These studies are observational as contrasted to clinical studies. Observational studies record specific events in a defined population of patients (those that have been diagnosed with cancer) without any intervention by the researcher. Although they lack the rigorous controls of a clinical trial, they represent the "real world." They can be further characterized as prospective, meaning they begin with a cohort or the group of cancer patients assembled in the present time and followed in the future. The studies involved evaluating the psychosocial status of the patients over time by means of interviews, questionnaires, or testing. The information obtained was then compared with data abstracted from their medical records. Most of the studies concluded that patients with low levels of social and emotional support, or that suffered from chronic depression were more likely to die from cancer.
The copyright of the article Does psychotherapy improve cancer survival? in Cancer Treatment is owned by . Permission to republish Does psychotherapy improve cancer survival? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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