Psycho-oncology: A Common Discipline for All!

Psycho-Oncology is a discipline that hasemerged in the early ۱۹۷۰s in response to growinginterest in the psychological, behavioral and socialissues, related to the occurrence of cancer in anindividual. Known as psychosocial oncology ۱throughout most of Europe, Psycho-oncology dealswith two psychological aspects of cancer: (۱)psychosocial: the emotional responses of patients,their families and caregivers; (۲) psychobiological:the psychological, behavioral and social factorsinfluencing mortality and morbidity among cancerpatients.۲The objectives are twofold: integration ofpsychological care into the total care of cancerpatients and their families at all stages of the disease,and progress in understanding psychological, socialand behavioral factors that may influence diseaseprogression and survival through research andeducation.۲,۳Besides, its name by itself refers to its position ofinterface among oncology, psychiatry andpsychology. Doctors, nurses, social workers,psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are allplayers of care that are concerned in the field ofPsycho-Oncology, bringing their specific clinicaland therapeutic skills. Similarly, the research ۴interests are common to all stakeholders of Psycho-Oncology, and are mainly focused on understandingthe psychological mechanisms involved in thecourse of cancer screening, detection, managementand rehabilitation of patients and their families.