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Depression and Anxiety in Cancer Patients
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The experience of being diagnosed with cancer may be traumatic to patients and their family members. This experience may bring a host of feelings including fear, anger, disappointment, hopelessness, helplessness, grief, guilt or even shame. Eventually, this may lead to the development of symptoms of depression and anxiety in both patients and their relatives. For patients, symptoms of anxiety and depression may have significant impact on their ability to participate in treatment (i.e., chemotherapy, radiation), the course of their illness, as well as the ability to live life as fully as possible (i.e., to enjoy friends and family, think clearly, and be able to study and/or work). Furthermore, depression and anxiety symptoms may increase patients' experience of pain, interfere with their sleep, cause nausea and vomiting, reduce immune system effectiveness, as well as diminish their quality of life. Similarly, for family members the diagnosis of a relative with cancer may be as traumatic, leading to development of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Such symptoms may limit their ability to support their cancer-diagnosed relative in their time of need.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a system of psychotherapy grounded in social learning theory and experimental psychology. CBT is focused on addressing the interaction between dysfunctional thoughts, feelings, and problematic behaviors in persons suffering with a wide range of emotional and mental health problems. At the core of CBT conceptualization is the ABC model in which an activating event (“A”) triggers a belief (“B”) about the activating event, which in turn results in unhealthy emotional and behavioral consequences (“C”). Within the context of treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients, CBT is used to help patients identify the link between their beliefs about their illness and their emotional and behavioral responses. The overall aims are to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, maximize the patients' resources to cope with the illness, and to improve quality of life.
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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to schedule a consultation. My practice is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan.
LIST OF WEB SITES WITH INFORMATION ON DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN CANCER PATIENTS:
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LIST OF SELECTED RESEARCH PAPERS ON COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN CANCER PATIENTS:
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Tatrow K, Montgomery GH: Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for distress and pain in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2006; 29:17-27.
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Osborn RL, Demoncada AC, Feuerstein M: Psychosocial interventions for depression, anxiety, and quality of life in cancer survivors: meta-analyses. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 2006; 36:13-34.
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Sherwood P, Given BA, Given CW, Champion VL, Doorenbos AZ, Azzouz F, et al.: A cognitive behavioral intervention for symptom management in patients with advanced cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum 2005; 32:1190-1198.
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Given C, Given B, Rahbar M, Jeon S, McCorkle R, Cimprich B, et al.: Effect of a cognitive behavioral intervention on reducing symptom severity during chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2004; 22: 507-516.
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Antoni MH, Lehman JM, Kilbourn KM et al. Cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention decreases the prevalence of depression and enhances benefit finding among women under treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Health Psychology 2001; 20:20-32.
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Cruess DG, Antoni MH, McGregor BA et al. Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychosomatic Medicine 2000; 62:304-308.
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