Resumo

DURA, Estrella  e  IBANEZ, Elena. Oncological psychology: the future of research and professional practice. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2000, vol.1, n.1, pp.27-43. ISSN 1645-0086.

Psycho-oncology combines the efforts of different disciplines (medical, psychological, and social) to provide comprehensive treatment for oncological patients using the bio-psycho-social health and disease model as a frame of reference. Although this discipline developed recently it has become widespread in research and in professional practice. This work is a brief review of its historical development and the different themes that psycho-oncological work has focused on. The main results obtained in three large areas are presented:1) personality characteristics associated with the development and/or progression of cancer; 2) psychosocial intervention programmes for cancer patients; and 3)the psychological aspects involved in the prevention of this disease. In each case the mechanisms that may account for the relations found between psychological factors and oncological disease are discussed. Finally, the need for specific training in psycho-oncology and the advisability of basing the professional practice of psycho-oncologists on the results obtained in basic research are emphasised.

Palavras-chave : Cancer; Psychology; Personality; Intervention; Prevention; Psycho-oncology.

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