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Review
. 2011 Jul;17(4):270-6.
doi: 10.1097/01.pra.0000400264.30043.ae.

Improving the recognition and treatment of cancer-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Lindsay N French-Rosas  1 , Jennifer Moye, Aanand D Naik
Affiliations
Review

Improving the recognition and treatment of cancer-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Lindsay N French-Rosas et al. J Psychiatr Pract. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Life-threatening illness has been identified as a stressor that can precipitate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Major advances in cancer treatment have led to increased survival periods. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of the psychological impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on the patient. Cancer survivors report that cancer can elicit symptoms of traumatic stress. When cancer-related PTSD is untreated, medical and psychiatric morbidity increase. Despite the prevalence, impact, and morbidity of cancer-related PTSD, access to mental health care in cancer patients remains limited. It is important to increase mental health providers' awareness of cancer-related PTSD, given rising cancer rates and the potential for enhancing quality of life. This article presents an overview of the recognition, diagnosis, management, and follow-up of cancer-related PTSD for the mental health clinician.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures: The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.

References

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