Psychosocial and psychooncological aspects in oncology

In recent years psychosocial and psychooncological aspects have received increasingly more attention in the treatment of tumor patients, which is oriented towards a biopsychosocial model. By establishing certified oncology centers especially in gynecology with the associated obligatory psychooncological treatment options, the therapy of psychosocial burdens of patients has improved immensely. Even though this is an important step, psychooncological treatment options in the outpatient sector cannot yet be comprehensively provided. An example of networking and transfer in the psychooncological treatment of patients is the model of psychosocial care at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus of the Dresden University of Technology which will be presented in the following article. The aim of networking in the psychosocial field of care is to bring this dimension of tumor diseases into focus also within the medical consultation. This will continuously improve cooperation and coordination of all professions engaged in oncological treatment. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.