Veronica Robert
Clinica Las Condes,Chile
Title: Psycho-oncology: A psychosocial support and intervention model
Biography
Biography: Veronica Robert
Abstract
Nowadays we face a world with a technologic environment changing and advancing constantly, which, in the oncologic scope, implies more advanced investigations and therapies, observing a constant evolution in the management and symptomatic control of the oncologic illness. This scenario implies a higher frequency of patients who suffer its consequences within a short, medium or long time limit, involving permanent adaptation processes. It was already by the mid of the past century that the Psycho-oncology subspecialty arises so as to ameliorate the pshycosocial adjustment the oncologic person has to suffer from its multiple effects. Cancer illness considers an impact that transcends not only physical shock but also an emotional process, considering the person as a whole, with personal, familiar and environmental aspects, allowing us to see this illness from a biopshychosocial view. An affective climate is generatedcreating a complex questioning and deep changes in the various contexts where the patient is set in. The fact of losing what is most important as health, with all its consequences, the person experiences the oncologic mourning. Is the way how the patient confronts the disease and his/herenvironment. The distress experience within the process of this illness ,can bring out negative effects for the patient’s health and quality of life. Moreover, the developing of psychiatric disorders are more frequent in oncologic patients than in patients who do not suffer this illness. The major vulnerability of the oncology patients to develop a psychiatric disease, is an importantissue the medical staff have to take into account., so they require special care and be aware of this patient’s emotional needs. In the present article, an interventional model is presented supported by the emotional aspects studied in the oncologic patient. Relevant aspects are presented and developed of the patient’s general evaluation , an emotional support structure and the required interventions to fulfill the aims of it.