Objective
The objective of this study is to describe major findings on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in cancer, by analyzing its various definitions, assessment tools, and examining its main ...psychological and clinical correlates.
Methods
A search in relevant databases (PsycINFO, Pubmed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science) was performed using descriptors related to the positive reactions in cancer. Articles were screened by title, , and full text.
Results
Seventy‐two met the inclusion criteria. Most articles (46%) focused on breast cancer, used the PTG inventory (76%), and had a cross‐sectional design (68%). The PTG resulted inversely associated with depressive and anxious symptoms and directly related to hope, optimism, spirituality, and meaning. Illness‐related variables have been poorly investigated compared to psychological ones. Articles found no relationship between cancer site, cancer surgery, cancer recurrence, and PTG. Some correlations emerged with the elapsed time since diagnosis, type of oncological treatment received, and cancer stage. Only few studies differentiated illness‐related–life‐threatening stressors from other forms of trauma, and the potentially different mechanisms connected with PTG outcome in cancer patients.
Conclusions
The evaluation of PTG in cancer patients is worthy, because it may promote a better adaption to the illness. However, many investigations do not explicitly refer to the medical nature of the trauma, and they may have not completely captured the full spectrum of positive reactions in cancer patients. Future research should better investigate issues such as health attitudes; the risks of future recurrences; and the type, quality, and efficacy of medical treatments received and their influence on PTG in cancer patients.
Objectives
Online resources are changing patient‐professional relationship and care delivery by empowering patients to engage in decisions in order to cope with their illness and modify behaviors. ...This review analyses the psychological factors associated with spontaneous and health professional–guided internet use in cancer patients.
Methods
Searches were performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. Studies were included if they involved cancer patients or focused on the relationship between cancer patients and health professionals, describing either patients' spontaneous use of interne or a guided‐structured eHealth psychosocial intervention.
Results
Seventy‐seven scientific papers were finally included. Results described emotional and behavioral outcomes in cancer patients who accessed online information. Internet has long been used spontaneously not only as a source of medical information or symptom management but also for decision making or emotional and social support. Health professionals can guide internet use, providing specific web‐based recommendations and developing intervention programs to better meet patients' needs, such as educational or information programs.
Conclusion
Online access is a complementary form of care that physicians can provide. Patients benefit from online resources, especially when both they and their health professionals increase their engagement with online interventions such as integrated systems or online communities.
Objective
This study assesses the effectiveness of face‐to‐face group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (PPC) compared to its online adaptation, online group positive psychotherapy for ...cancer survivors (OPPC), which is held via videoconference. A two‐arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of both interventions on emotional distress, post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and post‐traumatic growth (PTG) among cancer survivors and analyze attrition to treatment.
Methods
Adult women with a range of cancer diagnoses were invited to participate if they experienced emotional distress at the end of their primary oncological treatment. Emotional distress, PTSS, and PTG were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Intention‐to‐treat analyses were carried out using general linear mixed models to test the effect of the interventions overtime. Logistic regressions were performed to test differential adherence to treatment and retention to follow‐up.
Results
A total of 269 individuals participated. The observed treatment effect was significant in both modalities, PPC and OPPC. Emotional distress (b = −2.24, 95% confidence interval CI = −3.15 to −1.33) and PTSS (b = −3.25, 95% CI = −4.97 to −1.53) decreased significantly over time, and PTG (b = 3.08, 95% CI = 0.38‐5.78) increased significantly. Treatment gains were sustained across outcomes and over time. Analyses revealed no significant differences between modalities of treatment, after adjusting for baseline differences, finding that OPPC is as effective and engaging as PPC.
Conclusions
The OPPC treatment was found to be effective and engaging for female cancer early survivors. These results open the door for psycho‐oncology interventions via videoconference, which are likely to lead to greater accessibility and availability of psychotherapy.
Post-traumatic stress and growth are common responses to adverse life events such as cancer. In this article, we establish how cancer becomes a "fertile land" for the emergence of stress and growth ...responses and analyze the main mechanisms involved. Stress-growth responses on adjusting to cancer is potentially determined by factors like the phase of the illness (e.g., initial phases vs. period of survivorship), patient's coping strategies, meaning-making, and relationships with significant others. We also review the mechanisms of constructive and adaptative stress-growth balances in cancer to study the predictors, interrelated associations, triggering mechanisms, long-term results, and specific trajectories of these two responses to cancer. Finally, we update the evidence on the role of these stress-growth associations in psychologically adjusting to cancer. Together with this evidence, we summarize preliminary results regarding the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions that aim to facilitate a constructive psychological balance between stress and growth in cancer patients. Recommendations for future research and gaps in knowledge on stress-growth processes in this illness are also highlighted. Researchers are encouraged to design and use psychotherapeutic interventions according to the dynamic and changeable patients' sources of stress and growth along the illness. Relevant insights are proposed to understand the inconsistency of stress-growth literature and to promote psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate a constructive balance between these key responses in cancer.
There is increasing evidence that positive life changes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG), can result from the experience of coping with cancer. However, no interventions have been specifically ...designed to facilitate the development of PTG in cancer. In this article, we describe and assess the results of Positive Psychotherapy for Cancer (PPC) survivors. It aims to facilitate PTG as a way of achieving significant reductions in the symptoms of emotional distress and posttraumatic stress. In addition, the corroboration of this PTG facilitation is assessed using interpersonal indicators. Method: We allocated 126 consecutive survivors of cancer with high levels of emotional distress and who were seeking psychological support to either an experimental group (PPC) or a waiting list group. Results: The PPC group obtained significantly better results after treatment than the control group, showing reduced distress, decreased posttraumatic symptoms, and increased PTG. The benefits were maintained at 3 and 12 months’ follow-up. Participants’ PTG was correlated to the PTG that their significant others attributed to them, corroborating PTG facilitation. Conclusions: PPC appears to promote significant long-term PTG and can reduce emotional distress and posttraumatic stress in cancer survivors. In addition, PTG facilitation induced by PPC is corroborated by significant others.
La evidencia científica muestra la importante presencia de cambios vitales positivos, como el crecimiento postraumático (CPT), tras afrontar un cáncer. Sin embargo, ninguna intervención ha sido específicamente diseñada para facilitar el CPT en pacientes con cáncer. En este artículo, se describen y evalúan los resultados de la Psicoterapia Positiva dirigida a supervivientes de Cáncer (PPC), diseñada para facilitar el CPT como vía para reducir el malestar emocional y estrés postraumático. Utilizamos indicadores interpersonales para validar la autenticidad del CPT. Método: Ciento veintiséis supervivientes de cáncer con elevados niveles de malestar emocional fueron consecutivamente asignados al grupo experimental (PPC) o al grupo de lista de espera. Resultados: El grupo de PPC obtuvo significativamente mejores resultados después del tratamiento que el grupo control, mostrando una reducción del malestar psicológico, de los síntomas de estrés postraumático y un incremento del CPT. Los beneficios se mantuvieron a los 3 y 12 meses. El CPT fue corroborado por los seres queridos de los participantes. Conclusiones: La PPC parece promover de forma significativa el CPT y reduce el malestar emocional y el estrés postraumático en supervivientes de cáncer. Además, la facilitación de CPT inducido por la PPC es corroborada por los seres queridos.
Abstract This integrative review aimed to analyze the research into positive psychological functioning after breast cancer, and to integrate the most relevant findings relating to sociodemographic, ...medical and psychosocial factors. Relevant outcomes were identified from electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Wiley Online Library) up to July 2015. A Google search was performed to identify unindexed literature. Dissertations and theses were searched on Proquest Dissertations and Theses, DIALNET and TDX. Selection criteria included empirical studies assessing relationships between breast cancer and positive functioning, without restrictions on type of participants. In total, 134 studies met the inclusion criteria. The sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial characteristics associated with well-being, posttraumatic growth, finding benefit and meaning were being young, undergoing chemotherapy, and having social support. The last two of these characteristics were time-oriented. The culture of the different samples and positive dispositional characteristics like optimism had an influence on the women's coping styles. Socioeconomic status and level of education were also associated with positive psychological functioning. The perceived impact of breast cancer on patient, as well as the perceived support from significant others can result in better functioning in women with breast cancer. The results highlight that oncology health professionals should take into account not only the individual and medical characteristics, but also the stage of the oncological process and the psychosocial environment of patients in order to promote their positive functioning.
Introducción: La atención psicosocial de las personas con enfermedad oncológica y la familia debe formar parte de todo modelo integral de atención que pretenda reducir el impacto vital del cáncer. ...Las intervenciones psicosociales han probado su eficacia en la ayuda a pacientes y familiares para afrontar las situaciones de alta complejidad psicosocial emergentes a consecuencia de un diagnóstico de cáncer. Objetivo: Definir y explicar el modelo de Atención Psicosocial del Comité Psicosocial del Instituto Catalán de Oncología (ICO) utilizando criterios de vulnerabilidad, complejidad y derivación; enmarcado y basado en los valores del ICO (centrados en las necesidades de pacientes con cáncer y sus familias). Método: El modelo que se presenta en este documento consta de cinco pilares: 1) Principios de la Práctica Psicosocial en Oncología; 2) Áreas de actuación en la Atención Psicosocial del paciente con cáncer y la familia; 3) Cribado de malestar emocional y derivación del paciente con cáncer y la familia para una atención psicooncológica específica; 4) Comité Psicosocial: (objetivos; funciones; organización; composición; disciplinas participantes; criterios de derivación y niveles de complejidad; y procedimiento); y 5) Índice de productividad. Resultados: Pacientes y familiares atendidos por el CPS mostraron mejoría estadísticamente significativa en los niveles del malestar emocional, pasando de una media inicial de 8,12/10 (EVA/ ENV) a una media 6,27/10 (EVA/ENV). Asimismo, se constata que las intervenciones derivadas del comité psicosocial redujeron el porcentaje de casos iniciales de alta complejidad, pasando de un 69,3% a un 49,3%. Conclusiones: El abordaje de la complejidad psicosocial mediante un modelo basado en criterios multi e interdisciplinarios consensuados ayuda en la toma de decisiones sobre las acciones a seguir y en la mejora del malestar emocional y complejidad de los pacientes y la familia.
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