Psycho-oncological interventions in patients with pancreatic cancer

PurposeThis study (n=68) evaluated the effects of three different psycho-oncological interventions on patients with pancreatic cancer regarding psycho-social strain and quality of life during chemotherapy. The following interventions were compared: structured psycho-oncological counseling (n=18), progressive muscle relaxation (n=32) and acontrol group (n=18) where information about the illness and relevant issues was provided in awritten form.MethodsThe need for psycho-oncological support, anxiety and depression and the quality of life of the patients were measured at two different times, shortly before the beginning of chemotherapy and after the final session of the psycho-oncological intervention.ResultsPatients with pancreatic cancer suffer from severe psycho-social strain and alow quality of life. During the chemotherapy changes in the strain and variations in the quality of life occur. The counseling reduced the anxiety of the patients. The progressive muscle relaxation helped them to better cope with the pain caused by the illness. The provision of written information to the cancer patients supported a positive appraisal of the quality of life.ConclusionThe results of the study show that patients with pancreatic cancer can benefit from apsycho-oncological intervention, which is started early in the process of cancer treatment and is continued after the chemotherapy to limit the distress caused by the illness.