Onkológia 1/2017

Psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy in oncology

The impact of mental health on the length and quality of life in cancer patients is discussed topic since the 90s. Depression, anxiety, delirium, and other psychiatric symptoms are highly prevalent even in this patient, and pharmacological and psychological intervention is an important component in the overall psychosocial care of the patient. A lot of meta-analysis show a beneficial effect of psychoeducational and psychosocial interventions. Psychopharmacology is also used as a primary or adjuvant treatment for the management of cancer-related symptoms stemming from the disease itself and/or its treatment, including sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, neuropathic pain, nausea, fatigue, and hot flashes. This article aims to review the indications for use of antidepressants, psychostimulants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers a psychotherapy in oncology.

Keywords: psycho-oncology, psychotherapy, psychopharmacotherapy, depression, anxiety