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Psychotherapies in psycho-oncology

An exciting new challenge

Department of Psychiatry

DAVID KISSANE, FRANZCP

Centre for Palliative Care, University of Melbourne

Correspondence: Professor Sidney Bloch, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne 3065, Australia. Fax: +613 9819 0635; e-mail: s.bloch{at}medicine.unimelb.edu.au

Declaration of interest This research has been supported by the Australian Rotary Health Fund, Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

See editorial, pp. 93-94, this issue.

Background There is ample scope to devise forms of psychotherapy in consultation—liaison psychiatry, including the newly evolving area of psychooncology.

Aims To highlight the development of psychotherapy in psycho-oncology, providing two illustrations.

Method We report on conceptual and clinical research in the context of oncology and palliative care, focusing on (a) an approach for families at risk of maladaptive bereavement; and (b) a group programme for women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Results We were able to introduce new forms of psychological treatment for specific clinical groups, and anecdotal evidence points to useful benefits for participants.

Conclusions Psychotherapists should grasp the opportunity to bring their skills to the medical arena, but need to subject newly devised interventions to well-designed and methodologically rigorous research.

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