Psycho-oncological care of brain tumor patients

BackgroundThe diagnosis of brain tumor elicits existential fear and great uncertainty for the affected person and their relatives and is an enormous challenge for all those involved.ObjectivePsycho-oncological screening procedures and results are discussed and interventions for brain tumor patients are presented.Material and methodsAliterature search was carried out. Adiscussion on the special burden of brain tumor patients and their relatives as well as psycho-oncological interventional options are presented.ResultsThe majority of patients initially feel overwhelmingly burdened by the disease. During the longer course of the disease approximately20% suffer from depression, whereby patients with pre-existing psychiatric diseases are more frequently affected. The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) or the distress thermometer (DT) can be employed as psycho-onological screening procedures. In the case of above-threshold values in the HADS or DT5 and emotional problems 2, apsycho-oncological counselling should be carried out. Especially neuro-oncological tumor centers certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG) provide psycho-oncological counselling for patients and relatives. The offers should be within a narrow time frame and with low threshold, reducing the psychosocial burden, raising the quality of life and recognizing the subsyndromal symptoms of disease.DiscussionSo far very few specific interventions for brain tumor patients are established. Effective psycho-oncological interventions are psychoeducation, psychotherapeutic consultation and relaxation procedures. Additionally, patients should be encouraged to undertake physical activities as well as to participate cultural and societal activities.