SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS

Modern psychology faces strong interest to different psychological aspects of oncological diseases. Researches are held in various directions. One of the research fields is connected with the psychological reasons of the disease origin. The second one is devoted to studies of special psychological features of oncological patients and their reactions to the disease. And, finally, the third one is connected with the search of ways of giving oncological patients sociological and psychological help. At the same time oncological practice faces the problem of helping the patient psychologically. This is connected with poor elaboration of special programs of psychological support. Taking into account all the above we see that the problem of social and psychological support of oncological patients can be considered as one of the most topical ones. The project was based on the idea that oncological disease influences mental action not only in the somatogenic way, but in the psychogenic one, too. The main factors that influence the state of mind of the patient and his / her relatives are the following: the fatal character of disease, crippling operations and therapy, the absence of any guarantees against relapses and metastases, strong pain syndrome. All the above determined the work on the "Social and psychological support of oncological patients" project. The psychological part here includes: - Psychodiagnostics aimed at evaluation of the patient's psychological condition. - Psychotherapy, which eases the emotional stress, created by the disease and its psychological and social consequences, and develops new life senses. - Consulting and clarification aimed at deepening self-understanding, social position change, development of new psychological and social skills. - Social-controlling activity (provides social and psychological help, which is outside the professional psychologist's qualification) - Researching direction aimed at studying the support programs effectiveness and improvement.