Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychological Aspects of Critically Ill Cancer

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

  • 871 Accesses

Abstract

To be diagnosed as a critically ill cancer patient is likely to cause some challenges, for both the patients and their caregivers. The primary purpose of this chapter is to identify the main psychological issues related to critically ill cancer patients and what they are likely to do after the diagnosis of their medical condition. Cancer diagnosis may result in distress, depression and anxiety resulting in extended periods of their illness. Age, gender and primary cancer site play a crucial role in anxiety and depression level. After diagnosis, patients are more likely to have emotional distress experience and also taking control stage including seeking further information and finding appropriate help. Psychological and emotional vulnerability are affected by the timing of when their medical condition is diagnosed, medication endpoints and recurrence episodes. Should a patient receive an improved cancer pain management, it can help the patient not just for biomedical reasons but also manage their psychosocial and spiritual distress levels. As for possible protective factors against distress of critically ill cancer patients, optimism and social support are suggested to increase their quality of life. Coping styles after surgery have links to psychosocial adjustment of patients. In addition to this, higher resilience amongst cancer patients, in particular, leads them to having lower psychological distress and being more physically active. It is also thought that this may also lead to them being more resilient and also potentially a more effective psychological symptom management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Finlay IG, Dunlop R. Quality of life assessment in palliative care. Ann Oncol. 1994;5:13–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Fowlie M, Berkeley J. Quality of life-a review of the literature. Fam Pract. 1987;4:226–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Felce D, Perry J. Quality of life: its definition and measurement. Res Dev Disabil. 1995;16(1):51–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Linden W, Vodermaier A, MacKenzie R, Greig D. Anxiety and depression after cancer diagnosis: prevalence rates by cancer type, gender, and age. J Affect Disord. 2012;141:343–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bringmann H, Singer S, Höckel M, Stolzenburg JU, Krauss O, Schwarz R. Longitudinal analysis of psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients. Onkologie. 2008;31:343–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mishel MH, Hostetter T, King B, Graham V. Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in patients newly diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. Cancer Nurs. 1994;7:291–9.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Piccinelli M, Wilkinson G. Gender differences in depression: critical review. Br J Psychiatry. 2000;177:486–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Turton P, Cooke H. Meeting the needs of people with cancer for support and self-management. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 2000;6(3):130–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Robinson S, Kissane DW, Brooker J, Burney S. A systematic review of the demoralization syndrome in individuals with progressive disease and cancer: a decade of research. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2015;49(3):595–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Diaz-Frutos D, Baca-Garcia E, García-Foncillas J, López-Castroman J. Predictors of psychological distress in advanced cancer patients under palliative treatments. Eur J Cancer Care. 2016;25(4):608–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Galway K, Black A, Cantwell M, Cardwell CR, Mills M, Donnelly M. Psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life and emotional wellbeing for recently diagnosed cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;14:11.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rev Semple C, Parahoo K, Norman A, McCaughan E, Humphris G, Mills M. Psychosocial interventions for patients with head and neck cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;16:7.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Koyne JC, Stefanek M, Palmer SC. Psychotherapy and survival in cancer: the conflict between hope and evidence. Psychol Bull. 2007;133:367–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Shi HJ, Nakamura K, Takano T. Health values and health information-seeking in relation to positive change of health practice among middle-aged urban men. Prev Med. 2004;39:1164–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ankem K. Factors influencing information needs among cancer patients: a meta-analysis. Libr Inf Sci Res. 2006;28:7–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Adams E, Boulton M, Watson E. The information needs of partners and family members of cancer patients: a systematic literature review. Patient Educ Couns. 2009;77:179–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lambert S, Loiselle C, Mcdonald M. An in-depth exploration of information-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2009;32:11–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Alloway SC, Graydon JE, Harrison D, Evans-Boyden B, Palmer-Wickham S, Burlein-Hall S, et al. Informational needs of women with a recent diagnosis of breast cancer: development and initial testing of a tool. J Adv Nurs. 1997;25:1175–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Fernsler JI, Cannon CA. The why of patient education. Semin Oncol Nurs. 1991;7:79–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hinds C, Streater A, Mood D. Functions and preferred methods of receiving information related to radiotherapy. Cancer Nurs. 1995;18:374–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. McPherson CJ, Higginson IJ, Hearn J. Effective methods of giving information in cancer: a systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials. J Public Health Med. 2001;23:227–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Mills ME, Sullivan K. The importance of information giving for patients newly diagnosed with cancer: a review of the literature. J Adv Nurs. 1999;8:631–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Harrison-Woermke DE, Graydon JE. Perceived informational needs of breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy after excisional biopsy and axillary node dissection. Cancer Nurs. 1993;16:449–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Luker KA, Beaver K, Leinster SJ, Glynn OR. Information needs and sources of information for women with breast cancer a follow-up study. J Adv Nurs. 1996;23:487–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wiggers JH, Donavon KO, Redman S, Sanson-Fisher RW. Cancer patients satisfaction with care. Cancer. 1990;66:610–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ream E, Richardson A. The role of information in patients’ adaptation to chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a review of the literature. Eur J Cancer Care. 1996;5:132–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Harris RL. Consistency of patient information…is this happening? Cancer Nurs. 1997;20:274–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Vos PJ, Garssen B, Visser AP, Duivenvoorden HJ, de Haes HCJM. Early stage breast cancer: explaining level of psychosocial adjustment using structural equation modeling. J Behav Med. 2004;27(6):557–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Heim E, Valach L, Schaffner L. Coping and psychosocial adaptation: longitudinal effects over time and stages in breast cancer. Psychosom Med. 1997;59(4):408–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kershaw T, Northouse L, Kritprache C, Schafenacker A, Mood D. Coping strategies and quality of life in women with advanced breast cancer and their family caregivers. Psychol Health. 2004;19(2):139–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Postone N. Psychotherapy with cancer patients. Am J Psychother. 1998;52(4):412.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tatrow K, Montgomery GH. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for distress and pain in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis. J Behav Med. 2006;29(1):17–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Woodward SC. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2011;15(4):42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Gauthier LR, Rodin G, Zimmermann C, Warr D, Moore M, Shepherd F, et al. Acceptance of pain: a study in patients with advanced cancer. Pain. 2009;143:147–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Zeppetella G, O’Doherty CA, Collins S. Prevalence and characteristics of breakthrough pain in cancer patients admitted to a hospice. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2000;20:87–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Keefe FJ, Abernethy AP, Campbell LC. Psychological approaches to understanding and treating disease-related pain. Annu Rev Psychol. 2005;56:601–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Lee PY, Wu CH, Chiu TY, Chen CY, Morita T, Hung SY, et al. The relation between pain management psychospiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer following admission to a palliative care unit. BMC Palliat Care. 2015;14:69.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Fingeret MC, Teo I, Epner DE. Managing body image difficulties of adult cancer patients: lessons from available research. Cancer. 2014;120(5):633–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Savard J, Simard S, Ivers H, Morin CM. Randomized study on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia secondary to breast cancer, part I: sleep and psychological effects. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(25):6083–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Savard J, Morin CM. Insomnia in the context of cancer: a review of a neglected problem. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(3):895–908.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Cuhadar D, Tanriverdi D, Pehlivan M, Kurnaz G, Alkan S. Determination of the psychiatric symptoms and psychological resilience levels of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and their relatives. Eur J Cancer Care. 2016;25(1):112–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Eicher M, Matzka M, Dubey C, White K. Resilience in adult cancer care: an integrative literature review. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2015;42(1):3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Matzka M, Mayer H, Köck-Hódi S, Moses-Passini C, Dubey C, Jahn P, et al. Relationship between resilience, psychological distress and physical activity in cancer patients: a cross-sectional observation study. PLoS One. 2016;11(4):0154496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Zehra Hatipoğlu M.D. & Dilek Ozcengiz M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Psychological Counselling and Guidance Department, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Ayten Bolukbası

Authors
  1. Zehra Hatipoğlu M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ayten Bolukbası
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dilek Ozcengiz M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zehra Hatipoğlu M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Intensive Care and Non Invasive Ventilatory Unit, Hospital Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain

    Antonio M. Esquinas

  2. Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    S. Egbert Pravinkumar

  3. Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    AYMAN O. SOUBANI

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hatipoğlu, Z., Bolukbası, A., Ozcengiz, D. (2018). Psychological Aspects of Critically Ill Cancer. In: Esquinas, A., Pravinkumar, S., SOUBANI, A. (eds) Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49256-8_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49256-8_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49255-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49256-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation