Psycho-oncology and distress screening
Psycho-oncology recognises and treats the anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence and existential distress that affect a third of people with cancer, using screening, psychotherapy adapted to cancer, and medication.
About 30-40% of patients meet criteria for a mental disorder (Mehnert 2014) and depression roughly doubles mortality risk via adherence and behaviour. The NCCN Distress Thermometer (1999) and IPOS standard make distress screening part of quality cancer care (ACoS CoC requirement). Evidence-based interventions: cognitive-behavioural therapy, Meaning-Centred Psychotherapy (Breitbart), CALM therapy (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully, Rodin), Dignity Therapy, mindfulness-based programmes, collaborative care for depression (SMaRT Oncology-2, Lancet 2014), and, in trials, psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress (Ross, Griffiths 2016; phase 2 2023). Fear of cancer recurrence has specific therapies (ConquerFear). Delivery is limited by workforce; digital CBT and stepped care extend reach.
How it works
Universal screening for distress with a validated tool, triage to stepped care (information, peer support, psychotherapy, psychiatry), and integration of mental-health specialists into oncology teams.
- Screening is cheap and mandated by accreditation
- Multiple manualised, trial-proven therapies
- Collaborative care improves depression outcomes more than usual care
- Screening without a referral pathway does not help
- Workforce and reimbursement gaps
- Little evidence in LMICs and minority populations
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Psycho-oncology and distress screening" OR ABSTRACT:"Psycho-oncology and distress screening") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Psycho-oncology and distress screening, not a curated reading list.
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