Control of Psychological Symptoms and Pain in Critically Ill Patients with Cancer - Psychological Components and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions

Psychiatric symptoms are common in many cancer patients, especially in those with advanced cancer. Several factors including stress of cancer diagnosis, the effect of central nervous system (CNS) tumors, neurotoxicity from immune reaction to non-CNS tumors and adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy may contribute to psychiatric comorbidity. Psychiatric symptoms are spectrum from mild symptoms like fatigue to sever disorders like anxiety disorder or mood disorders. Sometimes psychological adverse effect of treatment like anger or anxiety or worry are more severe than medical adverse effects like nausea and hair loss. Most common distress in these patients is hopelessness that lead to decrease coping strategies. Powerful coping strategies can help patients to tolerance well. Because several specialists contribute in treatment of end stage patients, so increase knowledge of treatment team about psychological status and correct empathy can help to improve patients’ general health.