Recent advances in psychosocial oncology.
The April 2005 issue of Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology presents 5 articles that address the cancer experience. In this commentary, Vicki S. Helgeson examines how the authors of these articles advance the field in important ways, in particular by using theory-based research, identifying mechanisms of change, identifying moderators of treatment effectiveness, incorporating partners in studies, moving beyond self-report measures of distress, using longer term follow-ups, extending studies to more diverse samples, focusing on sexuality, and using longitudinal designs. Helgeson concludes by identifying several challenges that researchers in this area face and by highlighting future avenues for research.
Helgeson
Vicki S
VS
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. vh2e@andrew.cmu.edu
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D011584:Psychology; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology