Three phases of cancer in the process of mental trauma: diagnosis, treatment, survival

Abstract

Objectives: Cancer tends to trigger a psychological response that represents a form of traumatic stress. Regardless of the nature of the noxious agent, therapeutic interventions conducted for the treatment of any post-traumatic reaction must take into consideration the tri-phasic structure of adaptation (i.e. shock, mourning and integration) in defining a balanced response to a vital threat. This paper aims to gather evidence on the psychosocial dimension of cancer by applying a three-phase approach model. Methods: To fulfill the stated aim, systematic reviews and meta-analyses on non-experimental studies published in the last 15 years were screened using the following databases: CINAHL, Pubmed, Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute, Ulakbim, and Google Scholar. Overall, 33 reviews met the inclusion criteria. Results: The obtained data, which included findings on different types of cancer and different psychiatric reactions, disclose the presence of a psychological trauma process that occurs in response to physical illness. Conclusion: The mental trauma process was studied and is discussed in three phases, namely, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment.