Indicators of maladaptive emotions in patients with cancer as assessed by oncologists and nurses.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The clinical management of patients with cancer by oncologists and nurses needs to differentiate between maladaptive emotions that do require professional mental health care and adaptive emotions that do not require such care. Previous qualitative research identified six symptoms as potential indicators of maladaptive emotions. These included lingering, increasing or extreme emotions, emotions that interfere with daily life or with treatment, and unexplained somatic symptoms. The present study tested the validity of these symptoms as indicators of maladaptive emotions in patients with cancer.

Methods

Patients with a solid malignancy were assessed 3 to 7 months after the start of chemo- or immunotherapy. Patients were categorized as experiencing either adaptive or mal

SUBMITTER: Doppenberg-Smit GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12513930 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature