Integrative Oncology Care May Reduce Emotional Distress in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who regularly attended a weekly integrative oncology program had lower levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems than patients who did not regularly attend the program, according to areport inPsycho-Oncology.“Emotional distress is one of the leading challenges facing supportive and palliative oncology care,” wrote Eran Ben‐Arye, M.D., of Technion‐Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, and colleagues. Several studies have suggested that integrative oncology care—which combines complem entary therapies with conventional cancer treatments—may reduce some symptoms in patients with cancer. Ben-Arye and colleagues specifically focused on the impact of such programs on emotional distress in cancer patients.They examined data from 439 adults who received personalized integrative oncology care while undergoing chemotherapy for localized cancer (stages 1-3). After an initial hour-long consultation, patients were invited to attend weekly 30- to 45-minute integrative oncology sessions tailored to their needs. These sessions included guidance on herbal supplements, acupuncture, reflexology, music therapy, and more.The researchers evaluated patients ’ depression, anxiety, and sleep quality using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and quality of life was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC) at baseline and six weeks later. They compa...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: anxiety cancer care depression integrative oncology Psyco-Oncology quality of life sleep Source Type: research