Psycho-Oncology: Psychological Well·Being as One Component of Quality of Life

Abstract

This review deals with the issues of quality of life and psychological well-being in cancer patients, with particular reference to the role of psychiatry in the oncology setting. The prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses as a measure of psychological well-being, the prediction of psychological well-being, the interactions between physical and psychological factors, and the impact of psychosomatic intervention on quality of life in cancer patients, are discussed.

Pretreatment factors predicting quality of life after treatment for head and neck cancer

“…6 The interaction between QOL and depression in terms of cause and effect is complex. 46,47 Several possible explanations exist for a negative correlation between QOL and depression. First, the factors leading to head and neck cancer may also predispose individuals to depression.…”

“…47 In the literature, this is supposed to be the main cause of psychosocial morbidity in these patients. 12,13,21,46,[48][49][50] However, there are some arguments against this hypothesis. In our study, patients had more physical symptoms after treatment, whereas their emotional functioning improved significantly and depressive symptoms tended to decrease, as was found in other studies.…”

Prediction of depression 6 months to 3 years after treatment of head and neck cancer

“…2,3 For this reason, it is important to detect or predict depression in these patients, especially because there are effective treatments for mood disorders in cancer patients. [4][5][6] Several studies have examined psychological distress and depression in head and neck cancer patients both before [7][8][9][10][11] and after treatment. 10,[12][13][14][15][16] Most of these studies were cross-sectional, and in many, depression was assessed with questionnaires but was not evaluated clinically in an interview.…”

The Relationship of Cancer Pain to Anxiety

“…A recent review [1] of the psychological factors contributing to the quality of life in patients suffering from cancer reveals the complexity of the topic. Anxiety may be due to uncertainty of the outcome of the illness and to the prospect of death; attendance at hospitals, and the effect of necessary treat ment may arouse anxiety; disability and symptoms may be important factors.…”

“…The same problem applies to studies of depression in relation to somatic illness; for instance, Tope et al [1] point out that a 'diag nosis' of major depression may be an artefact of the somatic symptoms of the physical ill ness.…”